Ricky Ponting milks the applause

Ricky Ponting hit a stunning unbeaten 176 as Australia hit a round 400 for the loss of five wickets on the first day of the second Test against India.

Half-centuries from Justin Langer and Simon Katich sustained the vice-captin through some big partnerships.

India were laid low by injuries on the eve of the match to key bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.

They had to hand the new ball to debutant Irfan Pathan and went in with only three other specialist bowlers.

Pathan started well after India lost the toss and were asked to take the field first.

He dismissed Matthew Hayden early on, as the prolific opener edged a catch to wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel to fall for just 12.

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But Ponting came in and added 113 with Langer before the left-hander messed up an attempted sweep shot off Anil Kumble to be caught for 58 just before lunch.

Surviving a catch at second slip on 17 off Pathan, and then an appeal for leg before wicket, Ponting flayed a weak attack on a perfect batting track.

If Gilchrist and Ponting stay in for the first session, don't put it past them to have the score at 550-5 at lunch From Daniel Have your say on TMS

Ponting and Damien Martyn smashed 56 runs off the first 10 overs after lunch before Martyn was caught at second slip by VVS Laxman off Ashish Nehra.

Steve Waugh also hit 30 before playing down the wrong line to be clean bowled by the hard-working Nehra.

The 38-year-old captain had been given a standing ovation by 20,048 strong first-day crowd in his last test appearance here.

The Ponting-Katich partnership was worth 138 before the New South Wales man, having hit his best Test score of 75, was caught on the fine leg fence off Ajit Agarakar just before the close.

Australia: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh (captain), Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist (wicketkeeper), Jason Gillespie, Andy Bichel, Brad Williams and Stuart MacGill.
12th man: Nathan Bracken.

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Venkatsai Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Parthiv Patel (wicketkeeper), Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra.
12th man: Lakshmipathi Balaji