Ponting has reeled off three centuries, including a career-best 206, in
the first three Tests in amassing an aggregate of 523 runs from four
completed innings, for an impressive average of 130.75.

“I think this is the best that I’ve had in my Test career so far. Consistency has always been something that probably plagued me a little bit during my career in both forms of the game and it is nice to know that I’m just starting to be a little bit more consistent at this level,” Ponting said.

The 28-year-old Tasmanian said he is never concerned about batting
records.

“I don’t look at stats. I never have done. That doesn’t worry me at
all. I am just out there everyday doing the best I can for the team and trying to be a part of a very successful side,” Ponting said.

A modest Ponting reckons the pitches in the Caribbean have played a
significant part in making it easy for him to score runs.

“There have been some of the easiest wickets to bat on that I’ve had in
my Test career, there is no doubt about that. There’s just been no

assistance at all for any bowler, particularly early on in the games.
“There’s been very little bounce and the pace has been very even and

very tame. It is exactly the same for our bowlers for our bowlers. The West Indies have made some decent totals against us as well and we got very very good bowling attack. It is just that the wickets are very flat,” Ponting asserted.

Asked about his duel with debutant Tino Best, Ponting said it was tough
baptism for the 21-year-old Barbadian pacer.

“It is a tough wicket for any fast bowler to bowl on, especially
someone like him who runs in and loves bang it into the wicket. A dead wicket like that is going to make it very hard for him.

“As he goes along, he will learn the right line and lengths he got to
bowl on those sort of wickets,” Ponting said.

Ponting, who captained Australia to championship glory in the 2003
World Cup in South Africa, said he was surprised that the West Indies sent them into bat after winning the toss.

“We had a very good day after being sent in. We were a bit surprised
this morning (yesterday) to be sent in on that wicket.

“Looking at it this morning (yesterday), it didn’t look as if there was
going to much assistance for the bowlers. There was no grass on it. It