Kingston (Jamaica): Captain Ricky Ponting hit an unbeaten 96 as Australia recovered from the loss of two early wickets to reach 189 for three against West Indies at tea on the first day of the opening test today.

The 33-year-old Ponting, in his 117th test, closed in on his 35th century with a commanding innings spiced with 11 fours off 132 balls at Sabina Park.

The right-hander shared a restorative third-wicket partnership of 137 with Mike Hussey, who was less fluent in compiling 56 off 146 deliveries. The left-hander hit six boundaries.

Hussey eventually fell to debutant offspinner Amit Jaggernauth and a spectacular, one-handed slip catch by Dwayne Bravo low to his right.

The 24-year-old Jaggernauth earned figures of one for 29 off 10 overs.

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who removed both openers in the first 40 minutes of the day to have Australia sliding to 37 for two, grabbed two for 35.

West Indies had only one real sniff at removing Ponting when Darren Sammy missed a run out chance with the Aussie skipper struggling to make his ground. Ponting was then on 48.

He soon brought up his half century, off 65 balls, and continued to bat with authority as he neared a landmark hundred.

Only Sachin Tendulkar, the great India batsman, with 39, has more test hundreds than Ponting. Ponting is equal on 34 with India's Sunil Gavaskar and West Indian Brian Lara.

Edwards gave the home team a boost with the wickets of Simon Katich (12) and Phil Jaques (9).

Katich, recalled after an absence of over 2 years, hit three convincing boundaries before he sliced a drive to Darren Sammy at gully in the fourth over.

Four overs later Jaques was trapped leg before as he played across the line of an inswinger.

Both teams entered the match with notable omissions. West Indies, already without captain Chris Gayle through a groin strain and Marlon Samuels to an ICC ban, lost pace ace Jerome Taylor through a lower back injury.

Australia had to do without experienced opener Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke.

Brad Haddin became the 400th Australian test representative as he replaced the recently retired Adam Gilchrist as wicketkeeper/batsman.

Source : PTI