(REUTERS) – Ricky Ponting and Australia are hoping for a culmination of recent progress in the second and final Test against New Zealand in Hobart. For Australia that would mean a third successive Test win and a 2-0 series success as they gear up for the impending arrival of fellow former world number one side India.
For former captain and Tasmanian native Ponting, the victory would also entail a 40th Test century and his first since he last played for Australia on his home ground two years ago. The portents are good for the hosts and their lynchpin.
Since their calamitous defeat in the first of two Tests against South Africa in Cape Town, Australia have scrapped hard to prevail in a gripping, series-levelling win in Johannesburg and then returned to home comforts in Brisbane with a nine-wicket victory inside four days.
For Ponting, under such pressure in the twilight of his career ever since he failed to regain the Ashes on home soil last winter and became the first Australian captain to lose three series against England, overdue runs have begun to flow too.
A century is yet to arrive, but Ponting said: “The hard work I have been doing is starting to pay off, which is nice.
“I felt comfortable at the crease during the innings in Brisbane. Although I was obviously disappointed with myself not to go on and make a hundred that I have been striving for for a long time, I know that if I keep doing the things I am doing – and more importantly applying myself out in the middle when I need to – then that big score is not far away.”
Ponting is less than two weeks away from his 37th birthday and is approaching an emotional occasion in what is highly likely to be his final Test at the Bellerive Oval.
“(It’s) very rare that I get the chance to come back and play international games down here in front of my home crowd,” he said. “It always has a little bit of extra meaning to play this game.
“It took me a while to get used to coming back here and playing international games. I never had much success early on but the last couple of visits down here have been pretty good. I am looking forward to the week.