Ricky Ponting shrugged off the latest round of speculation about his possible retirement with a fine knock of 91 not out on Tuesday in the fourth Test against India.

Australia are 3-214 at tea on the opening day after adding 116 without loss in the post-lunch session.

The 37-year-old Ponting, who has already scored one century in the four-Test series, has shared a 130-run partnership with skipper Michael Clarke (71 not out).

Ponting has struck 10 fours from 145 deliveries in a mixture of copybook defence and raw aggression, while Clarke has played some big shots down the ground in his 131-minute knock which has included 12 boundaries.

Clarke scored an unbeaten 329 in the second Test in Sydney and is also on track for his second century of the series.

The skipper had a slice of luck on 35 when he squirted a cut shot between wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and VVS Laxman at second slip for a boundary.

Australia won the toss in sunny conditions and raced to a total of 98 at lunch for the loss of three wickets.

David Warner (eight) was unable to repeat his century in the third Test and was out lbw to paceman Zaheer Khan.

Shaun Marsh was bowled between bat and pad for three, having missed a straight one from offspinner Ravi Ashwin.

Ashwin (2-58) also removed opener Ed Cowan (30) caught at cover at 3-84.

Marsh’s hesitant 12-ball display brings his tally for the series to 17 runs at an average of 3.40.

The 28-year-old West Australian has scored 0, 3, 0, 11 and 3 against India.

Australia’s next Test is against West Indies in Barbados in April, with Marsh looking an unlikely starter assuming star allrounder Shane Watson returns to the top six from injury.

Australia lead the four-match series three-nil against India. The home side have recalled offspinner Nathan Lyon for paceman Mitchell Starc.

India named Saha for suspended skipper MS Dhoni while fast bowler Vinay Kumar was dropped for Ashwin, with Dhoni’s vice-captain Virender Sehwag leading the side.