Attempting to overcome a benign MCG pitch and his modest spin attack, Ponting surprisingly closed Australia's first innings midway through the second day when runs were easy and plenty of wickets remained.
In reply to Australia's 5(dec)-454, Pakistan had limped to 4-109 from 49 overs by stumps on a pitch so lifeless that even night watchman Nathan Hauritz nudged and smacked 75, his highest Test score. He had resumed on five and Mike Hussey 37 with the overnight score 3-305.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam was surprised by the declaration but praised it. "I thought it was a very positive declaration," he said. "I think it is very wise that he has declared, you need more time.
"The old days are gone from when you could follow on.You need to get some rest for your bowlers. I think it was a very positive, very exciting declaration."
Should Australia win this match, which will take an awful lot of hard work on this lifeless strip, it will give Ponting more victories than any other skipper in 132 years of Test cricket. This is remarkable given that he is the first Australian captain in more than 100 years and just the second in history to lead two losing tours of England, prompting calls for his head.
Ponting and Steve Waugh stand at the top of Test cricket's illustrious table with 41 wins apiece, followed by Clive Lloyd with 36. The third Test victory in Perth against the West Indies little more than a week ago, which allowed Ponting to equal Waugh's record, was completely overshadowed by poor behaviour.
Three Australians were fined and West Indian spinner Sulieman Benn suspended.
Given he had so many wickets in hand and so much time to play with, Ponting could have batted on to make the game completely safe.
But he doesn't bat that way and, despite his leadership critics, doesn't captain that way.
Ponting would much rather be remembered for winning and the new video review system may just get him over the line no matter how time-consuming it is.
It was responsible for two of the four Pakistani wickets to fall yesterday, including one in the last over delivered by Peter Siddle.
It was the vital wicket of captain Mohammad Yousuf, who was given not out to a big appeal for a caught behind down the leg side off his glove by umpire Billy Doctrove.
Video umpire Asoka De Silva agreed after some deliberation that Yousuf, on 22, had indeed gloved the ball.
The third wicket, Salman Butt (45 in almost three hours) also went to video review after he disputed a leg-before-wicket decision from umpire Rudi Koertzen when Shane Watson was bowling. The appeal was denied.
The Australian fast bowlers declined to pitch the ball up, pinning the Pakistani batsmen uncomfortably on the crease as survival completely overtook the notion of shot-making. That allowed Mitchell Johnson to eventually trap Imran Farhat leg before wicket for nine made in almost an hour. With experienced former captain Younus Khan not on tour the demise of Yousuf has left a big hole in Pakistan's batting.
Much responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Umar Akmal, the younger brother of wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. Umar, who scored a century on debut during the just completed tour of New Zealand, is unbeaten on 10.
Both Australia's wickets to fall yesterday, Hussey and Hauritz, went to review decisions. Hussey went leg before wicket sweeping at off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for 82 and asked for Doctrove's decision to be reviewed but lost, just.
And Hauritz, who was very lucky not to be given run-out on 14 by video review when it appeared the bail had been lifted, was eventually very leg before wicket to paceman Abdur Rauf when the Pakistanis had a surprising not-out call from Koertzen overturned. Hauritz brought to 20 the number of innings between a half and a full century this summer with no Australian going on to three figures. But it is his bowling which will really count in this game. He wheeled away yesterday claiming 1-34 from 14 overs.
Hauritz experienced the full range of emotions in the space of four balls. First Faisal Iqbal was well caught at slip by Michael Clarke for a soporific 15, then Hauritz watched Pakistani captain Yousuf get off the mark with his side's first six, struck sweetly just to the right of the sight screen.
In reply to Australia's 5(dec)-454, Pakistan had limped to 4-109 from 49 overs by stumps on a pitch so lifeless that even night watchman Nathan Hauritz nudged and smacked 75, his highest Test score. He had resumed on five and Mike Hussey 37 with the overnight score 3-305.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam was surprised by the declaration but praised it. "I thought it was a very positive declaration," he said. "I think it is very wise that he has declared, you need more time.
"The old days are gone from when you could follow on.You need to get some rest for your bowlers. I think it was a very positive, very exciting declaration."
Should Australia win this match, which will take an awful lot of hard work on this lifeless strip, it will give Ponting more victories than any other skipper in 132 years of Test cricket. This is remarkable given that he is the first Australian captain in more than 100 years and just the second in history to lead two losing tours of England, prompting calls for his head.
Ponting and Steve Waugh stand at the top of Test cricket's illustrious table with 41 wins apiece, followed by Clive Lloyd with 36. The third Test victory in Perth against the West Indies little more than a week ago, which allowed Ponting to equal Waugh's record, was completely overshadowed by poor behaviour.
Three Australians were fined and West Indian spinner Sulieman Benn suspended.
Given he had so many wickets in hand and so much time to play with, Ponting could have batted on to make the game completely safe.
But he doesn't bat that way and, despite his leadership critics, doesn't captain that way.
Ponting would much rather be remembered for winning and the new video review system may just get him over the line no matter how time-consuming it is.
It was responsible for two of the four Pakistani wickets to fall yesterday, including one in the last over delivered by Peter Siddle.
It was the vital wicket of captain Mohammad Yousuf, who was given not out to a big appeal for a caught behind down the leg side off his glove by umpire Billy Doctrove.
Video umpire Asoka De Silva agreed after some deliberation that Yousuf, on 22, had indeed gloved the ball.
The third wicket, Salman Butt (45 in almost three hours) also went to video review after he disputed a leg-before-wicket decision from umpire Rudi Koertzen when Shane Watson was bowling. The appeal was denied.
The Australian fast bowlers declined to pitch the ball up, pinning the Pakistani batsmen uncomfortably on the crease as survival completely overtook the notion of shot-making. That allowed Mitchell Johnson to eventually trap Imran Farhat leg before wicket for nine made in almost an hour. With experienced former captain Younus Khan not on tour the demise of Yousuf has left a big hole in Pakistan's batting.
Much responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Umar Akmal, the younger brother of wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. Umar, who scored a century on debut during the just completed tour of New Zealand, is unbeaten on 10.
Both Australia's wickets to fall yesterday, Hussey and Hauritz, went to review decisions. Hussey went leg before wicket sweeping at off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for 82 and asked for Doctrove's decision to be reviewed but lost, just.
And Hauritz, who was very lucky not to be given run-out on 14 by video review when it appeared the bail had been lifted, was eventually very leg before wicket to paceman Abdur Rauf when the Pakistanis had a surprising not-out call from Koertzen overturned. Hauritz brought to 20 the number of innings between a half and a full century this summer with no Australian going on to three figures. But it is his bowling which will really count in this game. He wheeled away yesterday claiming 1-34 from 14 overs.
Hauritz experienced the full range of emotions in the space of four balls. First Faisal Iqbal was well caught at slip by Michael Clarke for a soporific 15, then Hauritz watched Pakistani captain Yousuf get off the mark with his side's first six, struck sweetly just to the right of the sight screen.
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