Australia considering early declaration

ADELAIDE, Dec 3 (Reuters) Australia might consider making an early declaration to push for an unlikely victory in the second Ashes test against England, captain Ricky Ponting said.

A draw is looming as the most likely result after Australia ended the third day on 312 for five in their first innings, still 239 behind England's 551-6.

Australia lead the five-match series 1-0 after easing to a comprehensive 277-run victory in Brisbane last week.

Ponting said the home side were still hopeful of getting close to England's score with recognised batsmen Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist at the crease, but might gamble on an early declaration if they fall quickly tomorrow.

''We might do that if we lose early wickets in the morning,'' Ponting told a news conference today.

''But the best way for us (to win the match) is just to keep batting and get a little way in front and try and bowl them out.

''If they can get a good partnership then we're going to be right back in the game.'' Ponting made 142 to register his 33rd test hundred but was furious at himself for getting out when an even bigger score beckoned.

He survived a scratchy start which included a dropped catch on 35 and a run out chance on 46 and was growing in confidence when he nicked a catch behind off Matthew Hoggard when the English seamer took the second new ball.

Ponting also shared a 192-run stand with Mike Hussey who went for 91 shortly after his own dismissal, leaving Australia in a slightly precarious state after they had recovered to 257-3.

''We knew the second new ball was going to be a very important time, not only in the day's play but in the course of this game,'' Ponting said.

''We had a really good partnership going over a few hours and I got out first over with it and then Huss' got out not long after.

''We were clawing our way back into the game and for me to get out when I did was disappointing but I think Michael Clarke's looked terrific and Gilly's started off really well so the first hour tomorrow is going to be crucial for us.'' HEAVY WORKLOAD Adelaide Oval is regarded as Australia's friendliest batting pitch but Ponting said even he was surprised at how flat it has played this week.

Just 11 wickets have fallen over the first three days with no end in sight for the heavy workload on the bowlers.

''It's probably been the flattest one we've played on for years, I can't remember playing on one that's done as little as this one did on the first day,'' he said.

''There just hasn't been anything on offer for any bowler on the first three days and will continue for the next two days.

''A good game of test cricket could develop from this over the next couple of days but we'll just have to wait and see.

''If there's something there that we can think we can chase we'll have a go at it for sure, but it all just depends on that first hour tomorrow.'' Ponting's century was his seventh in 2006 and his 10th from his last 13 tests and lifted him into outright fourth on the all-time list of century makers behind Sachin Tendulkar (35) and Brian Lara (34) and Sunil Gavaskar (34).

The 31-year-old has also scored 1,200 runs at an average of 109 and seems destined to finish up as the leading run-scorer of all time but says he has no interest in records.

''I don't think about that at all, I've never been one for stats.

I just don't pay attention to that at all,'' he said.

''I know a lot of other players carry stats around in their bags and check out how they're going and compare themselves to other players, but that's something that's just never concerned me.'' REUTERS PM BD1538