Bangalore Test: Ponting leads Australian charge

Electing to bat, Australia were 95 for no loss in their first innings at lunch on day one of the second and final cricket Test against India at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday.

Shane Watson (54) and Simon Katich (39) were at crease for the visitors at the break.

The hero of the first Test VVS Laxman, who led India to a victory against Australia at Mohali, was left out of the team for the second Test. India have brought in Cheteshwar Pujara as his replacement, along with Murali Vijay and S Sreesanth in place of Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma.

Laxman, despite a nagging back problem, had scored an unbeaten 73 to ensure his team came through the tense final moments of the Mohali Test.