Australia captain Ricky Ponting became the seventh batsman to score 10,000 Test runs on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here on Friday. Ponting drove a full length delivery outside the off-stump from Ramnaresh Sarwan, bowling his modest leg-breaks, through extra cover for two to reach the milestone about 15 minutes after the tea break. He became the third Australian batsman to reach the coveted landmark, after former national captains Allan Border (11,174 runs) and Steve Waugh (10,927). Ponting is playing in his 118th Test, after making his debut against Sri Lanka in 1995 at Perth. By tea Australia had put on 151 for one on the board. The tourists lost opener Phil Jaques for 17, with the score on 36, when he was trapped lbw by an in-swinging full-length delivery from Dwayne Bravo. Australia captain Ponting, who made 158 in the first innings of the first Test in Kingston, Jamaica last week, went to the crease needing 61 to become only the seventh player to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs. On a flat and easy track Ponting and opener Simon Katich took Australia to 70 for one by lunch and never looked in trouble, batting throughout the afternoon session without loss. Ponting was on 57 not out by tea with Katich on 64 against a West Indian attack that was struggled to make an impact on such a dead track. As expected, Australia's vice captain Michael Clarke who missed the first Test on compassionate leave, returned to the side at the expense of Brad Hodge. West Indies, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, was again without opening batsman and captain Chris Gayle, who is still struggling with a groin injury. The hosts opted for Xavier Marshall rather than Brenton Parchment as the replacement for Gayle while pace bowler Jerome Taylor returned to the side.
