5 Jan 2012

Old hands give Australia massive lead in second test

7:55 am on 5 January 2012

Michael Clarke hit a brilliant unbeaten 251 and Ricky Ponting his first hundred in two years as Australia took control of the second test against India, finishing the second day on an imposing 482 for four.

Clarke batted through the day for his first test double century and the highest score by an Australian at the Sydney Cricket Ground, while Michael Hussey pitching in with 55 not out to give Australia a lead of 291 over India's first innings 191.

Ponting had departed just before tea for 134 to end the fourth-wicket partnership with Clarke at 288, a record for Australia in tests against India and a potentially match-winning effort from a pair who came together with the score on 37-3.

Needing victory to level the four-match series after a 122-run defeat in the opener in Melbourne last week, India's bowlers had been hoping for some early wickets but instead laboured all day in the heat.

Resuming on 116-3, Clarke brought up his fifty on the second ball of the morning and continued to play with composure as he moved towards his third century in his last six tests.

The 30-year-old reached his 18th test century, and the first of the series from either side, in the last over of the morning by slapping a Zaheer Khan delivery through the covers.

Ponting, who last scored a test century against Pakistan in Hobart in January 2010, matched his successor as captain almost run-for-run throughout the session but endured a nervous wait on 97 through the lunch break.

Three overs into the afternoon, however, the 37-year-old reached his 40th test century with a rushed single off the bowling of Ishant Sharma that could have cost him his wicket.

As Zaheer's throw at the stumps missed, Ponting was able to pick himself up, brush off the dust and take a standing ovation from the 30,000 crowd.