The old firm of Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting kept Australia alive with a fighting century stand against India in the opening Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Wednesday. The senior duo, with their Test futures under scrutiny, pulled their team out of a huge hole at 27 for four with a crucial 115-run partnership to give Australia a slight edge with two days left. Former skipper Ponting finally fell for 60, but Hussey, dismissed for a controversial first-ball duck in the first innings, led the way with an unbeaten 79 as Australia reached stumps at 179 for eight. The Australians extended their 51-run innings lead to a 230-run advantage by the close with a result possible on Thursday's fourth day. Hussey, dropped on 69 by Rahul Dravid at slip, was positive from the outset and aggressively went after runs to show selectors he still has plenty to offer at the age of 36. Ponting made his second half-century of the match and looked on target for his first Test hundred in almost two years before Zaheer Khan coaxed a thick edge to Virender Sehwag in the gully. Ponting praised Hussey's positive approach. “You have to show great intent in those situations and you have to be able to counter-attack at different times, and I thought the way that Mike Hussey handled that situation was great,” he said. Hussey lost more batting partners late in the day with the dismissals of Brad Haddin (six), Peter Siddle (four) and Nathan Lyon (four). James Pattinson (three not out) was with him at stumps. Paceman Umesh Yadav initiated the Australian top-order collapse with the first three wickets, removing openers David Warner (five) and Ed Cowan (eight) within four balls, and finished with four wickets. India lost seven wickets for 68 off 28.1 overs after it looked in command at 214 for two late Tuesday.
