Ponting ton ups Aussies in Windies Test

After a summer where at times nothing seemed to go right for Ricky Ponting, the Australian skipper felt he could do no wrong.

Ponting buried the demons of a controversial summer as his 35th Test hundred ensured Australia wasted no time exerting their dominance over a weakened West Indies on the opening day of the battle for the Frank Worrell Trophy.

The tourists were 4-301 at stumps on day one of the first Test at a sweltering Sabina Park with the captain's sublime 158 - well supported in century partnerships with Michael Hussey (56) and Brad Hodge (53 not out) - the cornerstone of a merciless batting performance by the tourists.

Ponting is the first to admit his form suffered from an incident-riddled series with India earlier this year.

But with no Harbhajan Singh or Indian Premier League distractions in sight, the 33-year-old was back to his brutal best against an undermanned Windies attack to move to second on the all-time list of century-makers, and within sight of the exclusive 10,000-run club.

"I didn't feel like I did much wrong at all today to tell you the truth," said Ponting, who before play presented Brad Haddin with his baggy green cap as Australia's 400th Test player.

"I probably played and missed three or four balls, and didn't hit too many in the air, and the one I did I got caught.

"It was just satisfying to be out there and feel in control again.

"Through the summer in Australia, I did score a century in the last Test but I struggled through the one-day series and never really felt that comfortable at the crease.

"Today, I just felt comfortable again."

Only Indian master Sachin Tendulkar (39) has scored more Test hundreds than Ponting after the Tasmanian jumped one clear of retired greats Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar (both 34) with his near chanceless knock.

The 117-Test veteran now needs only a further 66 runs to become the seventh player in history to reach 10,000 Test runs.

If his record in the Caribbean is any guide, Ponting's elevation into that elite company may be just days away with the skipper having amassed a remarkable five centuries in six Tests in the West

Indies.

In the end, it took an amazing one-handed catch by Brenton Parchment to stop Ponting pursuing the milestone, with the skipper's six-hour stay at the crease brought to an end just 11 minutes before stumps.

Parchment dived full stretch to his right at mid-wicket to claim an amazing catch off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo (1-47).

Bravo had earlier shown off his remarkable ability in the field by snaffling an equally impressive one-handed catch at slip to dismiss Hussey and hand young off-spinner Amit Juggernauth (1-74) his first wicket in Test cricket.

But while the Windies' effort rarely seemed to wane on a gruelling day, their bowling lacked penetration after an initial burst from Fidel Edwards (2-56) which saw Australia stumble to 2-37 after winning the toss and batting.

Juggernauth did look promising in his Test debut while the dismissal of Ponting was worthy reward for Bravo after a fine final spell.

But the late withdrawal of pace spearhead Jerome Taylor to a shoulder injury was a crucial blow to a side already missing opening batsman and skipper Chris Gayle.