Another Ponting ton drives Tasmania

In his first innings at first-class level since retiring from Test cricket, Ricky Ponting showed that he still has plenty to offer, scoring an unbeaten 138 for Tasmania on the first day against New South Wales in Hobart. At stumps, the Tigers were 6 for 310 with Ponting still at the crease alongside Jason Krejza, who was on 71, and it was a fine recovery after Tasmania struggled to 6 for 132, meaning the Ponting-Krejza stand had reached 178 at the close.

Josh Hazlewood picked up three wickets, Trent Copeland collected two and Chris Tremain one before Ponting and Krejza came together. Ponting brought up his 79th first-class century and his second of the Sheffield Shield season, while Krejza passed fifty for the ninth time in first-class cricket.

It continued Ponting's remarkable Shield summer - even more incredible given the struggles he had during the Test series against South Africa. In five matches, Ponting has scored 493 runs at an average of 164.33, and he has only been dismissed three times from seven innings.