Ponting scores century in 100th Test

Ricky Ponting [ Images ] became just the sixth player and first Australian to score a century in his 100th Test appearance when he made a hundred against South Africa [ Images ] on Wednesday.

The Australian captain reached the milestone after lunch on the third day of the third and final Test at the Sydney [ Images ] Cricket Ground in 215 minutes off 143 balls.

Ponting joined Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad [ Images ], Gordon Greenidge, Alec Stewart and Inzamam-ul-Haq [ Images ] as the only players to achieve the feat.

Ponting made 96 on his debut against Sri Lanka [ Images ] a decade ago but has chalked up 27 centuries since, putting his equal sixth with Allan Border [ Images ] on the all-time list.

The 31-year-old Tasmanian struck 10 boundaries and a six to reach his hundred on Wednesday but had to survive a loud lbw appeal on 95 off Charl Langeveldt.

Players to score a century in their 100th Test appearance:

104 - Colin Cowdrey (England [ Images ]) v Australia [ Images ], Birmingham 1968

145 - Javed Miandad (Pakistan) v India [ Images ], Lahore [ Images ] 1989-90

149 - Gordon Greenidge (West Indies [ Images ]) v England, St John's 1989-90

105 - Alec Stewart (England) v West Indies, Manchester 2000

184 - Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) v India, Bangalore 2004-05

120 - Ricky Ponting (Australia) v South Africa, Sydney 2005-06