Ponting builds strong platform

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Michael Hussey hit a serene unbeaten 81 after Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson laid the platform with sedate knocks to push Australia to a competitive 229 in the third ODI in Delhi, according to website cricinfo.
"A total of 220 should be a good score on this pitch," Ponting said after winning an important toss on a slow, low pitch and Australia's approach reflected his mindset.
Only when India bat, it will be known whether Australia's estimate proves right or whether they ended up showing too much respect to the pitch. With swing out of the question, the Indian seamers tried to win lbw decisions by bowling as straight as possible and the spinners slowed their pace and kept to an off and middle stump line.
You knew that by not selecting Shaun Marsh and being saddled with a middle order not equipped to handle this sluggish track, Australia would depend heavily on their three main batsmen - Ponting, Hussey and Watson - to reach to a competitive total. The way the three batted seemed to reflect their fear that a mini-collapse can never be far away on this sluggish track. Ponting, who opened only for the second time in his career in Tim Paine's absence, and Watson didn't try anything fancy in a sedate but solid start before Hussey took over in his inimitable style.
You don't usually remember a stand-out shot from a Hussey innings. What strikes you is his total self-awareness of his own game with its limitations. Today, too, there were no flashy shots to go gaga about but all his typical trademark shots were displayed: He played numerous little dabs and nudges, cut and swept whenever he could and never got ahead of himself at any stage. He did play a reverse sweep against Yuvraj Singh but it wasn't a shot of flamboyance but a stroke played to make use of the gap in the field. He only hit three more boundaries - the first was a result of a misfield, the second came in the 48th over when he finally heaved one across the line but the highlight was the last when he charged out to biff Ashish Nehra over long-on in the 50th over.
Before Hussey unfurled his characteristic innings, Ponting and Watson played uncharacteristic knocks to give a solid platform. It was a test of their patience but both they came out unscathed. Sure, there were a couple of occasions when Watson played too early or the ball rapped Ponting on the pads but for the main part they were relatively comfortable. Both looked to come forward at every opportunity and play straight.

Scoreboard
Australia innings:
SR Watson st Dhoni b Yuvraj Singh 41
RT Ponting lbw b Jadeja 59
MEK Hussey not out 81
CL White c †Dhoni b Raina 0
AC Voges c Kumar b Harbhajan Singh 17
MC Henriques b Jadeja 12
MG Johnson not out 9
Extras: 10
Total: (5 wkts, 50 overs) 229