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Hit by ball in Perth Test, Ponting taken to hospital, cleared of fracture, ready for play | Australian captain Ricky Ponting was taken to hospital for x-rays after being hit on the elbow by a brutal Kemar Roach bouncer after lunch on day one in Perth. Ponting, however, was cleared of a break, and has returned to the
WACA and is expected to be able to bat over the remaining four days, the Sydney
Morning Herald reported. After Australia completely dominated the morning session
reaching 106 without loss, the decision to bowl Roach from the Lillee-Marsh end
ignited the match. First the Barbadian bowler removed Shane Watson for 89, after
having him dropped on seven in just the fifth over of the day. With his second
ball at the Australian skipper, Roach produced the perfect short ball, crashing
into Ponting's left arm just above the elbow immediately requiring Australian
physio Alex Kountouris to provide treatment. The Australian skipper tried his
best to fight the pain, crashing Roach for two fours and one massive six in one
over to exact some revenge. A second bandage applied during the drinks break did
not have the desired effect, and after a third conversation with the Australian
medical staff Ponting walked off for precautionary x-rays. Ponting's premature
departure brought Mike Hussey to the crease in pressured circumstances, with the
WA man relieving some of his personal tension by pulling his first ball for four.
And while Ponting struggled, Simon Katich prospered at the other end, with his
19th Test half-century in 96 balls. Before lunch, Watson made the most of his
massive early let-off. He was brutal on anything short or full, pulling and driving
his way to a 76-ball half-century, which included nine fours. Brushing off the
disappointment of falling four runs short of his first Test century in last week's
second Test, the Queensland all-rounder ploughed on to take Australia past 100
runs in almost even time, with Simon Katich almost unnoticed at the other end
on 34 not out at lunch. With the West Indies making three changes to the side
that battled so manfully in Adelaide, one of them - fast bowler Gavin Tonge -
thought he had his first Test wicket on debut when he speared a vicious yorker
to Watson in the 21st over. But the 28-year-old's luck held again, with a faint
inside edge steering the ball two inches past leg stump, allowing Australia to
take firm control of the first day of the last Test of the series. The morning
was also memorable for Clint McKay, who received his baggy green from Ponting
on debut, replacing the injured Peter Siddle. |
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