Cricket: Ponting shows way

Ricky Ponting celebrates his century. He was eventually out for 149, caught at mid-wicket off Jermaine Lawson. Picture / Reuters

Captain Ricky Ponting blasted a brilliant 149 as Australia recovered from a middle-order collapse to reach 340 for seven at stumps on day one of the first cricket test against the West Indies at the Gabba yesterday.

The not out batsmen were Brett Lee on 19 and Shane Warne on 31.

West Indies paceman Corey Collymore backed up his captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul's bold decision to send Australia in by taking four for 47, including three for two in 11 balls.

The touring side's inexperienced four-pronged pace attack of Collymore, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards and Jermaine Lawson had played just 57 tests in total.

But Ponting shared vital partnerships of 92 with opener Matthew Hayden (37) and 104 with Adam Gilchrist (44).

Ponting, who moved to fifth on Australia's all-time test run-scoring list, hit 15 boundaries and faced 213 balls in his 24th test century after coming to the wicket at one for nine.

Gilchrist was out lbw to Collymore at five for 215 in the first over after tea, the pair having rescued Australia from a shaky four for 111.

Shane Watson (16) was then lbw to Fidel Edwards and Ponting was finally out caught at mid-wicket off Jermaine Lawson at seven for 294 before some lusty hitting from Lee and Warne.

Australia went to lunch at 1-95 before Collymore turned into a one-man wrecking ball for the inexperienced West Indies attack, knocking over Hayden, Michael Clarke (5) and Simon Katich (0) as Australia lost 3-10.

Collymore's pace was too much for Clarke and Katich, whose test spots appear safe although both are averaging under 40.

Hayden was out lbw in Collymore's eighth over and the 27-year-old right-armer from Barbados struck again in his next over, having Clarke caught behind as he squared the batsman up.

Katich then edged a low catch to first slip in Collymore's 10th over.

The only wicket to fall before lunch was 30-year-old debutant Mike Hussey.

The elation of achieving a life-long dream took less than half an hour to turn into a nightmare for Hussey.

After finally gaining his chance with the rib injury to his fellow West Australian Justin Langer, Hussey, the most experienced and run-blessed debutant in the history of Australian cricket, lasted just 14 balls and 26 minutes before he was dismissed for one trying to pull Daren Powell.

- AAP