Australian captain Ricky Ponting reached 10,000 runs and Simon Katich made his third test century, as the tourists assumed a dominant position after starting slowly on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies yesterday.

Ponting made 65, which allowed him to achieve his landmark, while Katich finished unbeaten on 113, to see the Aussies to 259 for three at close of play. 

Ponting became the seventh batsman and third Australian after former captains Allan Border and Steve Waugh to reach 10,000 runs.  In his 196th test innings, he also became the third quickest to the milestone behind Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, who both reached 10,000 runs in their 195th test innings.   

He got to the 10,000 run mark just after tea when he made two off Ramnaresh Sarwan to bring his score to 61.  It seemed, at that point, that a second 100 of the series was in the making but an edge off a Jerome Taylor delivery gave Xavier Marshall a sharp catch at second slip and sent the skipper back to the pavilion.

He batted 192 minutes, faced 123 balls and struck five fours in a 136-run second-wicket partnership with Katich. Katich's knock was a laborious effort and some shoddy fielding by the West Indies assisted him.

On 90, off the bowling of Fidel Edwards, he hit one wide to Runako Morton who dropped a straightforward catch.

AUSTRALIA 1st Innings

P Jaques lbw b Bravo     17
S Katich not out     113
R Ponting c Marshall b Taylor     65
M Hussey c C'paul b Sammy     10
M Clarke not out     38
Extras: (lb4, w5, nb7)     16
TOTAL (3 wkts, 82 overs)     259

To bat: A Symonds, B Haddin, B Lee, M Johnson, S Clark, S MacGill

Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Jaques), 2-172 (Ponting), 3-199 (Hussey).

Bowling: Powell 17-3-54-0, Edwards 18-3-55-0, Taylor 15-3-43-1, Bravo 15-1-56-1, Sammy 12-1-31-1, Sarwan 5-0-16-0.

WEST INDIES - R Sarwan (captain), D Smith, X Marshall, R Sarwan, R Morton, S Chanderpaul, D Bravo, D Ramdin, D Sammy, D Powell, F Edwards, J Taylor.

Toss: Australia.

Umpires: Mark Benson, Russell Tiffin; TV - Norman Malcolm.