Ricky Ponting revealed he and heir-apparent Michael Clarke gave each other a batting lesson in their massive 352-run stand at Bellerive Oval.

Ponting scored a record 209 at the Hobart ground, but it wasn’t without some handy tips from his vice-captain, and vice-versa.

Their 437-minute stand was the second highest fourth-wicket Australian partnership of all-time, falling just behind Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford’s 388 at The Oval in 1938.

Clarke scored a career-high 166 before falling to Danish Kaneria midway through day two of the third Test.

After 55 Tests together, Ponting said the pair now know each other’s games so well that they were confidently able to help each other at the crease.

He likened the batting relationship to that which he previously shared with Damien Martyn, and also that of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

“At different times we pushed each other along and at different times told each other to pull the reins back in a little bit,” the Australian skipper said.

“That was one of the strengths that Hayden and Langer and myself and Marto and those guys all had, because we knew each other so well and knew our games so well it was quite easy to coach through difficult times.

“Michael and I have played so much together now and know each other’s game really well there’s no doubt we used those experiences through out partnership the last two days.”

After coming together at 3-71, they set a fourth-wicket partnership record against Pakistan and also for Bellerive Oval while their stand was the sixth highest Australian partnership of all time.

SCORE – Australia 8(dec)-519, Pakistan 4-94.

MAN OF THE MOMENT – Peter Siddle. The Aussie paceman finally got amongst the wickets with two crucial early scalps.

KEY MOMENT – Mohammad Yousuf’s calamitous run-out. Pakistan’s best batsman was left stranded by his partner as the visitors found another yet way to lose their way.

STAT OF THE DAY – The 352-run fourth wicket partnership between Ricky Ponting (209) and Michael Clarke (166) became the all-time sixth highest Australian Test partnership.

SUMMARY – Australia in a strong position after declaring its first innings at 8-519. That superiority was reinforced as Pakistan’s top-order crumbled in reply with the tourists facing an uphill battle to avoid a series whitewash.

© AAP 2012

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