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Giles breakthrough checks Aussies Ponting puts England on back foot
(20 minutes later)
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. Captain Ricky Ponting served notice of Australia's determination to regain the Ashes with a superb opening day century against England in Brisbane.
Giles, preferred to Monty Panesar after recovering from hip surgery, had Damien Martyn caught at slip for 29. The home side were 346-3 at stumps, with Ponting 137 not out and partner Mike Hussey on 63.
Andrew Flintoff claimed the two earlier successes, dismissing Matthew Hayden (21) and Justin Langer (82). Andrew Flintoff provided the main threat for England, dismissing Matthew Hayden (21) and Justin Langer (82).
But Ricky Ponting was unbeaten on 63 at the interval to maintain Australia's hopes of a big first innings total. Ashley Giles had Damien Martyn (29) caught at slip but they ended the day weary and short of inspiration.
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. Earlier this year, Ponting admitted Australia had been "embarrassed and ashamed" after their 2-1 defeat in England last year.
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. And he looked like a man determined to lay down a marker not just for the opening Test, but for the entire series, as he made the most of an excellent batting wicket.
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. There were only a couple of anxious moments during Ponting's innings, once when he played the ball uppishly past gully and later on 72 when Giles had a confident lbw shout turned down after he missed an attempted sweep.
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. Prior to the match, much had been made of the need to seize the initiative as England did at Lord's last year when Steve Harmison peppered Justin Langer and Ponting with short deliveries.
Flintoff celebrates England's sole success of the morning session This time, however, the Durham paceman was short on control and confidence and after conceding four boundaries to Langer, he was withdrawn from the attack after only two overs.
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. The total went past 50 in the 11th over as Langer sliced Matthew Hoggard away 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. Once again he proved a galvanising force for the team as he angled an excellent delivery across Hayden and the big left-hander edged to Paul Collingwood at second slip.
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. Ponting was soon into his stride by pulling a long-hop away to mid-wicket and then punching the next ball through mid-off for a second boundary - shots he was to repeat all too frequently as England erred in line and length.
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 home side continued in the same positive vein after lunch, but Flintoff stuck to his task and was rewarded again when Langer, on 82, carved the ball to Kevin Pietersen at point.
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. Harmison bowled a better spell during the afternoon without ever looking like his old self and it was Giles, playing his first Test for 12 months, who finally achieved another breakthrough when Martyn misjudged a late cut.
But Flintoff stuck grimly to his task and was rewarded again when Langer, on 82, carved the ball to Pietersen at point. The ball took the top edge and Collingwood, moving smartly to his right, took the catch.
Martyn took time to settle in as Langer's replacement and Harmison kept things tight with a much improved spell in mid-afternoon. Next up for Australia was Hussey, a prolific scorer since making his Test debut 12 months ago, but new to the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes contest.
Ponting, however, was untroubled and went to his fifty off 65 balls and Flintoff eventually turned to Giles by way of variation. He showed no sign of nerves, however as he stroked Flintoff through mid-off for four and then whipped Giles away through the leg-side for four more.
It proved a shrewd move as Martyn dabbed to Collingwood, who took the catch in both hands as he moved to his right. So comfortable were the two Australians that Flintoff resorted to giving Pietersen an extended spell of off-spin.
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. It showed he had suffered no serious damage when he jarred his knee in the field earlier in the day, but the turn and bounce he obtained provided a warning about what England can expect from Shane Warne later in the game.
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. Ponting's hundred arrived with a push through the on-side off Hoggard, and in the process he equalled Steve Waugh's Australian Test record of 32 three-figure scores.
So deflated were England that Flintoff delayed taking the second new ball, and even when he did, he did not deem it necessary to summon Harmison from the deep, a worrying situation at the start of a five-match series.