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Live - Australia v England Live - Australia v England
(10 minutes later)
Skipper Ricky Ponting cruised past 150 as Australia continued to build a daunting total on the second day of the opening Ashes Test against England. England were unable to separate Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey as Australia advanced their total beyond 400 on the second morning in Brisbane.
The tourists were unable to separate Ponting and partner Mike Hussey, who established a new fourth-wicket record stand at The Gabba. Skipper Ponting surpassed his previous Test best against England when he reached 157 not out.
Steve Harmison had to wait until the seventh over of play for his first chance to redeem himself with the ball. And Hussey looked equally solid after surviving a lbw shout from James Anderson's opening ball of the day.
But he again struggled as he sent down two wides in his opening over. Steve Harmison again looked out of sorts, sending two wides at the start of an unthreatening four-over spell.
LATEST ACTION (all times local to Brisbane - GMT+10)LATEST ACTION (all times local to Brisbane - GMT+10)
By Ben DirsBy Ben Dirs
1128: WICKET Australia 407-4 (Hussey 86)Flintoff to the rescue again. He produces a crackerjack delivery that nips back and rips out Hussey's off-stump.
1123: Another four from Hussey off Hoggard to deep mid-wicket. The prolific former Northants and Durham batsman moves to within 14 runs of his ton. 406-3
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1118: Dreamy stroke from Ponting, just arching his bat and lacing the ball to the boundary. Flintoff then digs out a swine of a ball which launches off a length and almost finds Ponting's glove. Stares from Flintoff, but replays show it wasn't out. Punter then has a swat outside off-stump and is beaten. Good contest between the two skippers. Shame about everyone else. 402-3
1114: Ponting opens the face and glides the ball away for four. A peachy little shot that. He posts the 200 partnership with a nudge into the off-side. That's the highest fourth wicket partnership for Australia against England in Australia. 398-31114: Ponting opens the face and glides the ball away for four. A peachy little shot that. He posts the 200 partnership with a nudge into the off-side. That's the highest fourth wicket partnership for Australia against England in Australia. 398-3
"I suspect Curtly Ambrose would have been a handful on this, as would Harmison in his pomp. Unfortunately, playing in front of 30,000 people with Ponting looking to hit you all over the place is not the best way to regain form." Jonathan Agnew, TMS commentator"I suspect Curtly Ambrose would have been a handful on this, as would Harmison in his pomp. Unfortunately, playing in front of 30,000 people with Ponting looking to hit you all over the place is not the best way to regain form." Jonathan Agnew, TMS commentator
1109: Right, Freddie's had enough of this, he's going to have a go. Hussey grabs a couple of good, scampered runs and Ponting nicks a single. 393-31109: Right, Freddie's had enough of this, he's going to have a go. Hussey grabs a couple of good, scampered runs and Ponting nicks a single. 393-3
"All Steve Harmison needs is a big cuddle..." Will Fitch in the TMS inbox (I'm ashamed to say I know him)"All Steve Harmison needs is a big cuddle..." Will Fitch in the TMS inbox (I'm ashamed to say I know him)
1100: The Aussie batsmen still look like they could play Hoggard slouched in front of the stumps in an armchair, smoking a pipe with their feet up on a pouf. Come on Freddie, it's up to you again son. Drinks. 389-31100: The Aussie batsmen still look like they could play Hoggard slouched in front of the stumps in an armchair, smoking a pipe with their feet up on a pouf. Come on Freddie, it's up to you again son. Drinks. 389-3
1055: Sky have just been showing some good footage of Harmison bowling in the West Indies a couple of years ago as compared to yesterday (not a patch on TMS' coverage by the way...). It's clear he's faling over and his arm's not totally perpendicular. Someone must be telling him that, mustn't they? Five from his over. 387-31055: Sky have just been showing some good footage of Harmison bowling in the West Indies a couple of years ago as compared to yesterday (not a patch on TMS' coverage by the way...). It's clear he's faling over and his arm's not totally perpendicular. Someone must be telling him that, mustn't they? Five from his over. 387-3
1053: Majestic cover-drive from Hussey off Anderson. He's not planning on going anywhere. 382-31053: Majestic cover-drive from Hussey off Anderson. He's not planning on going anywhere. 382-3
1044: Ponting brings up his 150 with a cover-drive for three. The Aussie skip plays and misses at one that pitches and leaves him. Liquorice allsorts from the big man. He drops short and Ponting, eyes like saucers, hooks him for four. How do you solve a problem like Harmy? Don't get him in a room with Boycott, he'll end up in tears. 380-31044: Ponting brings up his 150 with a cover-drive for three. The Aussie skip plays and misses at one that pitches and leaves him. Liquorice allsorts from the big man. He drops short and Ponting, eyes like saucers, hooks him for four. How do you solve a problem like Harmy? Don't get him in a room with Boycott, he'll end up in tears. 380-3
1041: A maiden over from Anderson, but, as Geoffrey Boycott is pointing out on TMS, he's not making Ponting play at anything. 372-31041: A maiden over from Anderson, but, as Geoffrey Boycott is pointing out on TMS, he's not making Ponting play at anything. 372-3
"It would be have interesting to hear what dear old Fred Trueman would have said if he'd been hear watching Harmison..." Henry Blofeld, TMS commentator"It would be have interesting to hear what dear old Fred Trueman would have said if he'd been hear watching Harmison..." Henry Blofeld, TMS commentator
"Jonesy needs a Superman cape behind the stumps. They might have to call for the sub keeper before the day's out..." Former Aussie fast bowler Jeff Thomson on TMS"Jonesy needs a Superman cape behind the stumps. They might have to call for the sub keeper before the day's out..." Former Aussie fast bowler Jeff Thomson on TMS
1039: Harmison's having a go from round the wicket to Hussey and sends another down leg which has Jones scampering. He then swings one three feet outside Ponting's off-stump. There will be a lot of English folk watching this through their fingers at the moment. 371-31039: Harmison's having a go from round the wicket to Hussey and sends another down leg which has Jones scampering. He then swings one three feet outside Ponting's off-stump. There will be a lot of English folk watching this through their fingers at the moment. 371-3
1034: Glorious straight drive from Ponting off Anderson for his first four of the day. That's Australia's best fourth wicket stand at the Gabba - 171. 369-31034: Glorious straight drive from Ponting off Anderson for his first four of the day. That's Australia's best fourth wicket stand at the Gabba - 171. 369-3
1029: Oh my giddy Aunt, Harmison's first ball is a wide outside off-stump. His third, however, almost finds Ponting's edge. This must be like Russian roulette for the Aussie batsmen. Harmison then sends down another wide outside off-stump, to cheers from the Gabba crowd. The Durham man's last delivery is way down leg and Jones just gets a glove to it. I haven't anything this painful since Eric Bristow succumbed to dartitis on stage at the Swedish Open in 1987. Tragic. 365-31029: Oh my giddy Aunt, Harmison's first ball is a wide outside off-stump. His third, however, almost finds Ponting's edge. This must be like Russian roulette for the Aussie batsmen. Harmison then sends down another wide outside off-stump, to cheers from the Gabba crowd. The Durham man's last delivery is way down leg and Jones just gets a glove to it. I haven't anything this painful since Eric Bristow succumbed to dartitis on stage at the Swedish Open in 1987. Tragic. 365-3
1025: One glorious off-drive from Hussey, but Anderson will be happy he's tempting him forward. Is that Harmy is spy limbering up? Start blowing on those hands Freddie... 362-31025: One glorious off-drive from Hussey, but Anderson will be happy he's tempting him forward. Is that Harmy is spy limbering up? Start blowing on those hands Freddie... 362-3
1020: Just two from Hoggy's over, still no swing. And when Hoggard's not swinging it, he looks very ordinary indeed.358-31020: Just two from Hoggy's over, still no swing. And when Hoggard's not swinging it, he looks very ordinary indeed.358-3
1016: Another tight over from Anderson, Hussey's showing him some respect. James Brooks has just emailed to say that Hussey is batting "like a Liberal Democrat". Remarkable. 356-31016: Another tight over from Anderson, Hussey's showing him some respect. James Brooks has just emailed to say that Hussey is batting "like a Liberal Democrat". Remarkable. 356-3
1011: Three from Hoggard's over, but he's not getting as much movement as Anderson. Lot more humid in Brisbane today. 353-31011: Three from Hoggard's over, but he's not getting as much movement as Anderson. Lot more humid in Brisbane today. 353-3
"Ricky's a great player, but he's not as good as Greg Chappell." Former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson on Steve Waugh's claims that Ponting is Australia's best batsman since Bradman"Ricky's a great player, but he's not as good as Greg Chappell." Former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson on Steve Waugh's claims that Ponting is Australia's best batsman since Bradman
1007: Anderson to partner Hoggard, not Harmison. Groan. Anderson almost gets Hussey with a bit of inswing, but umpire Bowden is having none of a confident lbw appeal. Anderson is moving it about - encouraging signs for England. A good, on the button over from the Lancashire seamer, asking questions at last. 350-31007: Anderson to partner Hoggard, not Harmison. Groan. Anderson almost gets Hussey with a bit of inswing, but umpire Bowden is having none of a confident lbw appeal. Anderson is moving it about - encouraging signs for England. A good, on the button over from the Lancashire seamer, asking questions at last. 350-3
1002: Brisbane's Courier Mail went with the headline 'Shoddyline' last night. What a liberty, funny though. Hoggard has first go with the ball and Ponting plays a rock-solid forward defensive. The first run of the day is a leg-bye and Hussey brings up the 150 partnership with a nicely-timed cover-drive for three. 347-31002: Brisbane's Courier Mail went with the headline 'Shoddyline' last night. What a liberty, funny though. Hoggard has first go with the ball and Ponting plays a rock-solid forward defensive. The first run of the day is a leg-bye and Hussey brings up the 150 partnership with a nicely-timed cover-drive for three. 347-3
0956: The England players fall out of their huddle and Ponting and Hussey bounce their way to the middle, swirling their bats and peering up into the crowd like a couple of gladiators entering the Coliseum.0956: The England players fall out of their huddle and Ponting and Hussey bounce their way to the middle, swirling their bats and peering up into the crowd like a couple of gladiators entering the Coliseum.
"I'd say to Steve Harmison, you've got to run in and get us three wickets. We need a magical hour." Former England legend Ian Botham"I'd say to Steve Harmison, you've got to run in and get us three wickets. We need a magical hour." Former England legend Ian Botham
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"I've just been with the England boys and they're amazed at how fast the pitch has cracked. There will be more spin as the game goes on. Pietersen was spinning the ball off the pitch, so Warne will get prodigious spin out of the cracks..." Former England captain Nasser Hussain"I've just been with the England boys and they're amazed at how fast the pitch has cracked. There will be more spin as the game goes on. Pietersen was spinning the ball off the pitch, so Warne will get prodigious spin out of the cracks..." Former England captain Nasser Hussain
0935: I may be a Catholic, but I'm a rubbish one. But this morning, after finally staggering to bed, I clapped my hands together under the duvet and prayed to the Big Man. I didn't ask much but said, Lord, please give Harmy his mojo back, please let Hoggy swing the ball just a touch, please see that McGrath and Warne play a bit of touch rugby in the outfield during the tea interval. Just sort that out for me, and I'll get myself over to Africa next summer and knock up a couple of schools and a hospital. Amen.0935: I may be a Catholic, but I'm a rubbish one. But this morning, after finally staggering to bed, I clapped my hands together under the duvet and prayed to the Big Man. I didn't ask much but said, Lord, please give Harmy his mojo back, please let Hoggy swing the ball just a touch, please see that McGrath and Warne play a bit of touch rugby in the outfield during the tea interval. Just sort that out for me, and I'll get myself over to Africa next summer and knock up a couple of schools and a hospital. Amen.