Adelaide, Jan 24 (IANS) Unbeaten centuries by skipper Michael Clarke and his predecessor Ricky Ponting took Australia to a mammoth 335 for three in the first innings after the first day’s play against India in the fourth and the final cricket Test at the Adelaide Oval here Tuesday.

Ponting hit his 41st Test century that took him past 13,000 Test runs, the third cricketer after to do so after India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, and with the brilliant knock shrugged off speculation of his possible retirement. Ponting was batting on 137, his sixth at the venue, and Clarke was on 140.

Ponting and Clarke dominated two sessions of play with their 251-run fourth wicket stand after Australia were reduced to 84 for three. The stand was the duo’s second highest in the series so far after the 288 in the second Test in Sydney, where Clarke scored an unbeaten 329.

Ponting and Clarke scored rapidly in the last two sessions as 237 runs came from 61 overs at nearly four per over.

Clarke, however, was more spectacular during his eye-catching innings that was studded with 19 fours and a six. For Clarke, it was his 19th hundred and fifth in 11 matches since becoming captain. The only time he gave a chance was when V.V.S. Laxman put down a tough one-handed chance at second slip off Ishant Sharma just before stumps.

Ponting, who went without a Test century for two years, now has two in three innings, enough to send a strong message that he has still a lot to offer to Australian cricket.

Ponting now joins South Africa’s Jacques Kallis with his 41st century, with only Sachin Tendulkar (51) ahead them.

Unlike his 134 in Sydney, where he looked like a grafter, the Adelaide Oval saw the old aggressive Ponting, who hit 13 boundaries in five-and-a-half hours in front of 21,480 fans.

Despite losing the toss, India held the upper hand in the first session to leave Australia at 98 for three at lunch.

India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan (1-52) struck in the seventh over of the day to trap David Warner (8) leg before.

Off-spinner Ravinchandran Ashwin (2-58) went through the defence of Shaun Marsh (3) to rattle his stumps. Marsh has averaged just 17 in the series and is unlikely to retain his place in the side when Australia tour the West Indies in April.

Just before the lunch break, Ashwin struck again to remove Ed Cowan (30) with V.V.S. Laxman taking a good low catch at short cover.

The Indian bowlers put on a disciplined performance in the first session but as the day progressed they erred by sending down too many loose deliveries to Clarke and Ponting.