Waugh, Ponting reflect on tons (28 March 1999)

28 March 1999

Waugh, Ponting reflect on tons

Haydn Gill

The Australian who reached a treasured landmark at Kensington Oval yesterday was a hugely satisfied man, but the one who narrowly missed out on a more significant milestone was hardly bothered.

Ricky Ponting, on his return to Test cricket for the first time since receiving treatment for an admitted alcohol problem, was moved to say that his 104 was the best of his three Test centuries.

His captain, Steve Waugh, who has been there 19 times, was in no way disappointed that he missed out on a second double-century against the West Indies by a single run.

Both men were on the verge of their landmarks just around the same time. The 24-year-old Ponting arrived at his just before 1:30 p.m., but within 15 minutes, both he and Waugh were victims to off-spinner Nehemiah Perry.

"It would have been nice to get to 200, but one run isn't really worth worrying about," Waugh said afterwards. "It doesn't really worry me.

"I had my fair share of luck along the way. I could have been out a couple times before that, so I'll take 199 if you don't mind."

Ponting, a late inclusion after injury eliminated Greg Blewett, was understandably overjoyed after an innings in which he carefully applied himself, especially in the final hour over his last ten runs.

"It's probably the hardest I have had to work for a hundred. Six hours for a hundred is always very satisfying. For it to happen in a very important Test match in a series, is also more special," the right-hander from Tasmania said.

"It was hard work out there. They (West Indies) bowled very well in spurts today (yesterday). If they got the ball in the right area, it was quite hard to score.

Asked if he felt this could be the turning point of his chequered career, Ponting was non-committal.

"I don't even know what's going to happen in the next game. I can't jump to too many conclusions just yet," he said.

"I really did enjoy the innings out there. I had to work hard for it and I enjoyed being out there with Steve."

It was an innings that gained Ponting kudos from the man with whom he added 281.

"It was a great hundred from him. He worked hard all the way through. He normally scores a lot quicker so it was a very good innings," Waugh said.

In the process, the Australian captain became his country's second highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 7,535 in 114 Tests.

He went above David Boon (7,422) on Day 1 and he eclipsed his predecessor as captain Mark Taylor (7,525), yesterday. Only one other Australian skipper, Allan Border (11,174) is now above him.

The 33-year-old Waugh could not say if he would play as long as Border, who retired from international cricket at the age of 39.

"On this trip, I'm missing my family. It's a four-month trip. These things come more and more into play when you have kids and family," he said.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)