Ponting Leads Fight From the Front

Ricky Ponting played a captain's innings to help Australia reach a position of respectability against West Indies in the first Test in Brisbane.

Many of the downfalls which contributed to the Ashes defeat to England were still evident in some of the hosts' batting, but Ponting held firm with a wonderful 149 as his side closed day one on 340 for seven.

There was plenty in the Windies' showing to encouraged them, with Corey Collymore the pick of the bowlers with four for 47.

The tourists won the toss and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's decision to field reaped immediate reward when Test debutant Mike Hussey (one) top-edged a short ball from Daren Powell, giving wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin a simple catch.

Matthew Hayden (37) was trapped lbw by Collymore before he also snared Michael Clarke (five) and Simon Katich (nought) in quick succession to leave the Aussies struggling on 111 for four.

Experienced heads were called for and in Ponting and Adam Gilchrist the hosts had the perfect combination. A partnership of 104 duly followed as the Windies bowlers suddenly found the going much tougher.

Ponting, playing the lead role, brought up his 24th Test century shortly before tea with a cut shot for four. Gilchrist (44) was unable to stay with his captain for the long haul, however, falling victim to Collymore, who trapped the left-hander lbw.

Shane Watson failed to make much of an impact, contributing just 16, before Ponting's fine effort came to an end when he flicked a Jermaine Lawson delivery to Ramnaresh Sarwan at mid-wicket.

The standing ovation from the Gabba crowd was well deserved as Ponting's vigil had not only dragged the Aussies out of a hole but his ton allowed him to move up to fourth in the list of Australia's all-time run scorers behind the Waugh twins and Allan Border.

With Ponting gone, the Windies must have fancied their chances of making serious inroads into the tail before the end of play. But a typically stubborn rearguard effort from Shane Warne and Brett Lee frustrated the hosts.

Both men looked comfortable in seeing out the remaining overs, with Warne finishing on 31 not out and Lee unbeaten on 19.