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Aussies on top in opening session Giles breakthrough checks Aussies
(about 2 hours later)
Australia enjoyed a productive morning on day one of the eagerly awaited Ashes series against England as they reached 109-1 at lunch in Brisbane. England spinner Ashley Giles marked his first Test appearance for a year with a vital wicket as Australia reached 217-3 at tea on day one in Brisbane.
Justin Langer was the main thorn in England's side, hitting 10 boundaries in an unbeaten 68. Giles, preferred to Monty Panesar after recovering from hip surgery, had Damien Martyn caught at slip for 29.
The sole breakthrough came when England skipper Andrew Flintoff had Matthew Hayden caught at second slip for 21. Andrew Flintoff claimed the two earlier successes, dismissing Matthew Hayden (21) and Justin Langer (82).
Spinner Ashley Giles bowled the final over before the interval after being preferred to Monty Panesar. But Ricky Ponting was unbeaten on 63 at the interval to maintain Australia's hopes of a big first innings total.
It was a tidy enough effort from a bowler who last played Test cricket in Pakistan a year ago, but one sensed the Australian batsmen would not have been quite so respectful had it not been so close to the interval. There was an anxious moment for England just before the interval as Kevin Pietersen hurt his left knee in making a sliding stop and had to leave the field for treatment.
Much was made before the game about the need to try and seize the initiative right from the outset and that was clearly the aim of Australia's openers after Ricky Ponting won the toss and opted to bat. But it did not look serious - unlike the injury suffered by Simon Jones in the corresponding match at The Gabba four years ago when he damaged cruciate ligaments in trying to prevent a boundary.
Langer, in particular, was ready to chance his arm against England's new ball bowlers and collected four boundaries in the first two overs from Steve Harmison, prompting the Durham paceman's early withdrawal from the attack. Much had been made before the game about the need to try and seize the initiative from the outset and that was clearly the aim of Australia's openers at the start of the morning session.
Hayden opened his account with a glorious off-drive from the bowling of Matthew Hoggard but was content thereafter to play second fiddle. Justin Langer, in particular, was ready to chance his arm against England's new ball bowlers and collected four boundaries in the first two overs from Steve Harmison, prompting the Durham paceman's early withdrawal from the attack.
Langer picked the gaps through the off-side field Flintoff celebrates England's sole success of the morning session
Fortunately for England, Harmison's replacement James Anderson settled into a good rhythm after his first ball had been pulled away for four by Langer. Partner Matthew Hayden was content to play second fiddle to his partner as the total went past 50 in the 11th over as Langer sliced Hoggard away past point, prompting Flintoff to being himself into the attack.
But the total went past 50 in the 11th over as Langer sliced Hoggard past point, prompting Flintoff to bring himself into the attack. There was no sign of his ankle problems in an opening over bowled from round the wicket which saw him not far short of full pace, but he could not prevent Langer going to his 30th half century in Tests.
There was no sign of his ankle problems in an opening over bowled from round the wicket which saw him not far short of full pace. The cheers of Australia's fans soon turned to groans as Flintoff, so often a galvanising force for England, found the edge of Hayden's bat with an excellent angled delivery and Paul Collingwood made no mistake at second slip.
Langer had an anxious moment on 49 when he under-edged an attempted square cut just past off stump in Harmison's second spell but went to his 30th half century in Tests by pushing the first ball of the next over from Flintoff for an easy single. Hayden departed for 21, bringing Ponting to the crease and he was soon into his stride by emphatically pulling a long-hop away to the mid-wicket boundary and then punching the next one away through mid-off for another.
The cheers of Australia's fans soon turned to groans as Flintoff, so often a galvanising force for England, found the edge of Hayden's bat with an excellent angled delivery and Paul Collingwood held the chance safely. Australia began in the same positive vein after the lunch interval with Langer twice driving Anderson square for four and Ponting putting Flintoff away through mid-on.
Flintoff's full-on celebrations as Hayden departed for 21 were indicative of his frustration at England's lack of success in the first 90 minutes of play. But Flintoff stuck grimly to his task and was rewarded again when Langer, on 82, carved the ball to Pietersen at point.
But Harmison continued to look below his best and Ponting scored his first runs by emphatically pulling a long-hop away to the mid-wicket boundary and then punching the next one away through mid-off for another. Martyn took time to settle in as Langer's replacement and Harmison kept things tight with a much improved spell in mid-afternoon.
England's response was to remove Harmison again, leaving him to reflect on pre-lunch figures of 6-0-37-0, but Langer dabbed replacement Hoggard away to third man to take the total past 100. Ponting, however, was untroubled and went to his fifty off 65 balls and Flintoff eventually turned to Giles by way of variation.
The final run of the session went to Ponting, who swept Giles round the corner for a single to move on to 11 not out. It proved a shrewd move as Martyn dabbed to Collingwood, who took the catch in both hands as he moved to his right.
Next up for Australia was Mike Hussey, a prolific scorer since making his international debut, but yet to experience the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes series.
He showed no sign of nerves, however as he stroked Flintoff away through mid-off and then whipped Giles away to mid-wicket for four more.