Ponting keen to end his Indian failures

Ponting keen to end his Indian failures When the series starts Thursday, Australia captain Ricky Ponting is determined to improve his record in India having scored just 172 runs there in 14 Test innings at an average of 12. He has been troubled by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh more than anyone else, as the tricky bowler accounted for Ponting’s wicket five times out of five when they faced off in the 2001 rubber. Since making 60 there in 1998, Ponting has failed to reach 20 in nine attempts. It wouldn’t be such an amazing feat if the man we are discussing wasn’t averaging 58.37 in 119 Tests for India has proven the graveyard for many good players of the past but this is a man who may one day become the highest-scoring batsmen in Test history. The duo will meet again at Bangalore in the first Test this week before continuing their duel in Delhi, Mohali and Nagpur as Australia seek to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In 2004, they won for the first time in India for 35 years. “That first dismissal in the first Test (in 2001) was where it all started for me,” Ponting told reporters recently. “I was always trying to find a different way to play, fearing that one delivery I guess. “The reason for my poor performance was that I didn't trust myself; I didn't trust my technique. I ended up getting stumped or caught at bat-pad sweeping. I tried almost everything and nothing worked. “Every time I tried something, I got out pretty soon after. They are the lessons to be learnt I guess from coming here. I only played one game in 2004 as I was coming back from injury and the wicket at the Wankhede was pretty ordinary.” Ponting is taking a great deal of advice from a great many sources in an effort to listen to that one magical piece of advice that moght just change his fortunes against India in India. Ultimately, he knows that working out his own game himself and sticking to it is what will work best for him, though batting coach on the tour and former Australia great and India coach Greg Chappell has aided him technically. “I have spoken to a lot of guys this week about working out a style of playing you think is going to work for you, and when you have worked it out, making sure you stick to it. “Even if you do get out a couple of times early, you know that if you stick to those things that have worked for you in the past, some will go your way and you will end up scoring some runs. I have to be strong and stick to what I know is going to work.” He added, with a hint of needle against Harbhajan: “Sri Lanka is probably the hardest spinning condition to play in. I have got a record there, as good as anybody, and against a set of bowlers a whole lot more skilled than Harbhajan might be.” Curiously when Harbhajan was asked about his success against Ponting he said he was not sure about it as the Tasmanian had not been in long enough. Such cutting, dry humour is making for quite a contest.