India is the only country in which Ricky Ponting has not won a Test as captain and despite the best efforts of Ponting the batsman, he needs something special from his bowlers to end that record on Wednesday. And for all the fight shown by Ponting in an innings of 72 - his third score in the seventies this series - it remained to be seen whether Australia's lead of 185 at stumps was enough.
Against the spin of Ojha and Harbhajan Singh, on a cracking surface with fielders crowding around the bat, there was no room for hard hands or soft minds. The spinners were in control, and it took some counterattacking from Ponting to change that. He forced the field back by going over the top against Ojha, which was brave but necessary given India's rising momentum, and he found the gaps to turn the strike over in a useful 61-run partnership with Michael Hussey.
Ricky Ponting's 72 was his highest Test score in the second innings in India. Prior to this innings, his highest score was 17. It was a strong fightback from Australia, but their bowlers will need to be even more incisive on the final day.