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Ponting keeps Aussies in control England revival checks Australia
(about 2 hours later)
Ricky Ponting made his highest Test score against England to keep Australia on top in the first Ashes Test. Australia remained in control of the first Ashes Test despite a gallant England fightback in Brisbane.
The home side were 427-4 at lunch on day two in Brisbane, with Ponting 177 not out and Michael Clarke on 10. The home side went in for tea on 528-8 after Michael Clarke was caught at slip for 56 off Jimmy Anderson.
England skipper Andrew Flintoff claimed their only success of the morning, bowling Mike Hussey for 86 to end his partnership of 209 with Ponting. Skipper Ricky Ponting had earlier missed out on a double century when he fell lbw to Matthew Hoggard for 196.
Steve Harmison sent down two wides in his first over of the day and again looked well short of his best. Hoggard also picked up Adam Gilchrist for a duck four balls later and Shane Warne (17) gloved a catch to the keeper off the out of sorts Steve Harmison.
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. At the start of play, the first question was whether England would entrust a relatively new ball to Harmison after his struggles on the opening day.
The answer to that was no as skipper Andrew Flintoff looked to Hoggard and Anderson in the hope they would find some early swing to trouble not out batsmen Ponting and Mike Hussey.
Anderson struck Hussey on the pad with his opening delivery, only for umpire Billy Bowden to turn down a confident leg-before shout.Anderson struck Hussey on the pad with his opening delivery, only for umpire Billy Bowden to turn down a confident leg-before shout.
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.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.
Harmison was finally called up for the seventh over of the day but again erred in line, prompting ironic cheers from home supporters. Ponting raises his bat to the crowd after passing 150
Harmison's body position at the point of delivery was not quite right Harmison was finally called up for the seventh over of the day but two early wides prompted ironic cheers from home supporters.
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. 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.
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. Flintoff made a belated entry into the attack and was quickly cracked away for four off the back foot by Ponting.
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.
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.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.
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. 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 and end a 209-run partnership with Ponting.
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. The afternoon session began with new batsman Clarke showing little respect to spinner Ashley Giles as he lofted him straight for the first six of the game and then went over wide mid-off for four.
But Australia then lost their way as Ponting was lbw playing across the line and Adam Gilchrist followed in similar fashion for a duck as Hoggard went round the wicket.
Harmison finally had reason to smile when he removed Warne with a delivery which hardly deserved a wicket and the final action of the session saw the demise of Clarke after reaching an 86-ball fifty.