sharpe1983
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Ricky Ponting's 32nd Test century helped Australia dominate England on day one of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the hosts' skipper led from the front, ending on 137 not out as his side reached 346-3 at the close.
Michael Hussey provided admirable support with an unbeaten 63 after Justin Langer's quick-fire 82 had got the Australians off to a flying start.
Andrew Flintoff was the leading light on a dark day for England, picking up 2-48 through 16 overs of work.
Ashley Giles claimed the other wicket to fall, his first in Test cricket in 2006, but there was little else to cheer about for the tourists, particularly in the opening session.
In 2005 England set the tone for the summer with an excellent first hour in the Lord's Test. Things couldn't have been any more different in Brisbane in 2006 as they got off to such a woeful start that they were playing catch up for the rest of the day.
Steve Harmison's opening delivery ended up in the hands of second slip although he was not the only bowler to struggle, particularly against Langer.
The diminutive left-hander - who's last Test appearance, his 100th, ended after one ball when he was struck on the head by a Makhaya Ntini bouncer - dominated a stand of 79 with fellow opener Matthew Hayden.
A plethora of short balls resulted in 37 runs from the first six overs and an out-of-sorts Harmison bowled just 12 deliveries before being taken off.
It came as something of a surprise when a wicket did fall, Flintoff getting the breakthrough when he had Hayden caught at second slip for 21.
The all-rounder also ended Langer's 98-ball stay at the crease when a wide delivery that was slapped straight to Kevin Pietersen at cover.
However, the double strike, which came either side of lunch, did little to slow Australia's march towards a substantial total.
After suggesting he was struggling for form before the match, Ponting looked in sublime touch from the moment he came to the middle.
He shared a 57-run stand with Damien Martyn, who became the final wicket to fall in the day when he cut Giles - picked in preference to Monty Panesar - straight to slip Paul Collingwood.
That wicket fell in the 48th over. By the end of the 90th Australia were still only three down as an unbroken stand of 148 left England already facing a tough task to stay on level terms in the series.
Ponting's celebrations at reaching three figures - his sixth in Ashes battles - showed just how much it meant to him as helped Australia get off to the perfect start they so desperately desired.
Australia 1st Innings Runs Balls 4s 6s
J Langer c Pietersen b Flintoff 82 98 13
M Hayden c Collingwood b Flintoff 21 47 2
R Ponting not out 137 206 16
D Martyn c Collingwood b Giles 29 62 2
M Hussey not out 63 133 5
Extras 3W 5LB 6NB 14
Total for 3 Wickets (90.0 Overs) 346
Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets econ
S Harmison 12 2 52 0 4.33
M Hoggard 16 2 62 0 3.88
J Anderson 18 4 88 0 4.89
A Flintoff 16 2 48 2 3.00
A Giles 18 2 51 1 2.83
I Bell 1 0 12 0 12.00
K Pietersen 9 1 28 0 3.11
Fall of Wickets 1-79 (Hayden) , 2-141 (Langer) , 3-198 (Martyn)
Game play resumes at 00.11 uk time
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the hosts' skipper led from the front, ending on 137 not out as his side reached 346-3 at the close.
Michael Hussey provided admirable support with an unbeaten 63 after Justin Langer's quick-fire 82 had got the Australians off to a flying start.
Andrew Flintoff was the leading light on a dark day for England, picking up 2-48 through 16 overs of work.
Ashley Giles claimed the other wicket to fall, his first in Test cricket in 2006, but there was little else to cheer about for the tourists, particularly in the opening session.
In 2005 England set the tone for the summer with an excellent first hour in the Lord's Test. Things couldn't have been any more different in Brisbane in 2006 as they got off to such a woeful start that they were playing catch up for the rest of the day.
Steve Harmison's opening delivery ended up in the hands of second slip although he was not the only bowler to struggle, particularly against Langer.
The diminutive left-hander - who's last Test appearance, his 100th, ended after one ball when he was struck on the head by a Makhaya Ntini bouncer - dominated a stand of 79 with fellow opener Matthew Hayden.
A plethora of short balls resulted in 37 runs from the first six overs and an out-of-sorts Harmison bowled just 12 deliveries before being taken off.
It came as something of a surprise when a wicket did fall, Flintoff getting the breakthrough when he had Hayden caught at second slip for 21.
The all-rounder also ended Langer's 98-ball stay at the crease when a wide delivery that was slapped straight to Kevin Pietersen at cover.
However, the double strike, which came either side of lunch, did little to slow Australia's march towards a substantial total.
After suggesting he was struggling for form before the match, Ponting looked in sublime touch from the moment he came to the middle.
He shared a 57-run stand with Damien Martyn, who became the final wicket to fall in the day when he cut Giles - picked in preference to Monty Panesar - straight to slip Paul Collingwood.
That wicket fell in the 48th over. By the end of the 90th Australia were still only three down as an unbroken stand of 148 left England already facing a tough task to stay on level terms in the series.
Ponting's celebrations at reaching three figures - his sixth in Ashes battles - showed just how much it meant to him as helped Australia get off to the perfect start they so desperately desired.
Australia 1st Innings Runs Balls 4s 6s
J Langer c Pietersen b Flintoff 82 98 13
M Hayden c Collingwood b Flintoff 21 47 2
R Ponting not out 137 206 16
D Martyn c Collingwood b Giles 29 62 2
M Hussey not out 63 133 5
Extras 3W 5LB 6NB 14
Total for 3 Wickets (90.0 Overs) 346
Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets econ
S Harmison 12 2 52 0 4.33
M Hoggard 16 2 62 0 3.88
J Anderson 18 4 88 0 4.89
A Flintoff 16 2 48 2 3.00
A Giles 18 2 51 1 2.83
I Bell 1 0 12 0 12.00
K Pietersen 9 1 28 0 3.11
Fall of Wickets 1-79 (Hayden) , 2-141 (Langer) , 3-198 (Martyn)
Game play resumes at 00.11 uk time
