"It's been a great game for us," Ponting said.

"It's one of our best Test wins in quite a while I think, starting right from the start of the game with the (Simon) Katich and (Shane) Watson partnership which really set the platform for a very good Test match for us."

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Nathan Hauritz cleaned up the tourists on the final day, grabbing his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Hauritz, who was urged by chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch to step up when it counted last week, finished with five for 101 as the tourists were bowled out for 251.

"What players like him need is just that breakout performance," Ponting said of Hauritz.

"Unless you've actually got over the line and done it when it really matters, you always have doubts about yourself and whether you can do it.

"Today could be one of the really big turning points in Nathan's career.

"It will give him a lot of confidence, a lot of self-belief, which for younger players striving to find their feet at international level is what you're striving for."