Ponting becomes highest-scoring Australia batsman

Birmingham, England:

Ricky Ponting became the highest-scoring Australia batsman in Test history on the second morning of the third Test against England on Friday, after his team lost wickets with the first two balls of the day.

Ponting, who needed 25 runs before the match started at Edgbaston, reached the milestone with a flick through midwicket for three to go past Allan Border's tally of 11,174 runs, which he amassed from 156 matches. Ponting is playing his 134th Test.

Ponting, the Australia captain, was jeered when he came to the crease on Thursday but was given a generous round of applause from the English spectators upon reaching the milestone. He now trails only Brian Lara (11,953) and Sachin Tendulkar (12,773) in the all-time list.

The day began with Graham Onions trapping Shane Watson lbw with the first ball of the day. He then bowled Mike Hussey, who chose to leave a ball swinging into him only to see his off stump knocked back. The score was then 126-3.

Leading run-scorers in Test cricket:

Sachin Tendulkar, India: 12,773 runs in 159 Tests

Brian Lara, West Indies: 11,953 in 131 Tests

Ricky Ponting, Australia: 11,188 in 133 Tests

Allan Border, Australia: 11,174 in 156 Tests

Steve Waugh, Australia: 10,927 in 168 Tests

Rahul Dravid, India: 10,823 in 134 Tests

Jacques Kallis, South Africa: 10,277 in 131 Tests

Sunil Gavaskar, India: 10,122 in 125 Tests

Graham Gooch, England : 8,900 in 118 Tests

Javed Miandad, Pakistan: 8,832 in 124 Tests

Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan: 8,830 in 120 Tests

Matthew Hayden, Australia: 8,625 in 103 Tests

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, West Indies: 8,576 in 121 Tests

Sir Vivian Richards, West Indies: 8,540 in 121 Tests

Alec Stewart, England: 8,463 in 133 Tests

Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka: 8,418 in 105 Tests

David Gower, England: 8,231 in 117 Tests

Geoff Boycott, England: 8,114 in 108 Tests

Sir Garfield Sobers, West Indies: 8,032 in 93 Tests

Mark Waugh, Australia: 8,029 in 128 Tests.