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England vow to come out fighting Ponting keeps Aussies in control
(about 8 hours later)
England are confident of bouncing back from a dispiriting first day when the first Ashes Test resumes in Brisbane. Ricky Ponting made his highest Test score against England to keep Australia on top in the first Ashes Test.
Australia took full advantage of a flat track and some loose bowling from England to run up 346-3 on the opening day of the series. The home side were 427-4 at lunch on day two in Brisbane, with Ponting 177 not out and Michael Clarke on 10.
Andrew Flintoff apart, England's attack lacked a cutting edge, but they are refusing to throw in the towel. England skipper Andrew Flintoff claimed their only success of the morning, bowling Mike Hussey for 86 to end his partnership of 209 with Ponting.
"I know this England team and they will come out buzzing," said England spinner Ashley Giles. Steve Harmison sent down two wides in his first over of the day and again looked well short of his best.
Giles, who picked up the wicket of Damien Martyn, was recalled to the side at the expense of fellow left-arm spinner Monty Panesar. He had to wait for his chance as Flintoff entrusted a relatively new ball to Matthew Hoggard and James Anderson at the start of play, in the hope they could find some early swing.
He was steady, something which cannot be said about England spearhead Stephen Harmison. Anderson struck Hussey on the pad with his opening delivery, only for umpire Billy Bowden to turn down a confident leg-before shout.
The Durham player, along with fellow pacemen Matthew Hoggard and James Anderson, will be looking to improve on a disappointing first day. And after that it was business as usual for the two batsmen as they established a new fourth wicket record partnership for Australia at the Gabba, beating the 170 of Kim Hughes and Graeme Yallop in 1978.
606: DEBATE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A17628429">I for one don't have too many worries about our ability to cope with Australia's bowling TP class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/606/default.stm">606: Have your say Harmison was finally called up for the seventh over of the day but again erred in line, prompting ironic cheers from home supporters.
"The guys will keep their heads up and we'll be looking to pick up some early wickets," insisted Giles. Harmison's body position at the point of delivery was not quite right
"This side doesn't lie down so I'm sure we'll be back in the morning coming out fighting." Ponting reached 150 with three through the covers in the Durham paceman's next over and celebrated by pulling a short one away for four as he cruised past his previous best score against England of 156 at Old Trafford last year. Flintoff made a belated entry into the attack and was quickly cracked away for four off the back foot by Ponting.
The first day was dominated by Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who made the most of an ideal wicket for batting to score a fine unbeaten 137. But his response was to produce a beast of a delivery which leapt ferociously off a length and narrowly missed the edge of a startled Ponting's bat.
He put on an unbroken 148 with Mike Hussey (63 not out) but warned the job was far from done. Keeper Geraint Jones and the slip cordon went up, unable to believe there had not been a nick, but TV replays showed they were wrong.
"It's been a nice start to the series for us but in saying that it's only a start," said the Australia skipper. With his dander up, however, Flintoff was not to be denied and ripped one through Hussey's defences from round the wicket to bowl him for 86 after a 187-ball innings which included seven fours.
"It's only one day down of the series and we've got to do it all again tomorrow. Michael Clarke walked to the middle knowing he was only in the Australian team because of a hamstring injury suffered Shane Watson and his first ball was almost his last as Flintoff cut one back off the pitch but it eluded the inside edge on its way through to Jones.
"I'm looking forward to getting back out there and hopefully building a really big first innings total.
"They (England) haven't had a great day today but that happens quite a lot in Test cricket.
"You can have an ordinary day then have a brilliant start to tomorrow and the whole game can be turned around again. We've see that happen time and time again."