IN FULL CRY: Ricky Ponting flayed the England attack to notch up his 32nd Test century. — Photo: AP

BRISBANE: Well, what did you expect? England has a miserable record on this ground, especially since 1990, and on Thursday it was as bad as ever, particularly once Steve Harmison had bowled a wide which was caught at second slip by his pal Andrew Flintoff, the England captain.

Australia won the toss and, on a Gabba pitch so perfect you thought it ought to declare an interest, five of the most talented cricketers in the world, scored 346 for three on the first day of an Ashes series. England, the second best team in the world, applied enough pressure to allow us to dream that if only two wickets would fall soon, these Aussie heroes might collapse. But no. Ricky Ponting, the Australian skipper, strolled to his 32nd Test hundred _ which brings him level with Steve Waugh, his predecessor _ although as usual he began full of hesitation. It was also Ponting's seventh hundred in eight Tests.

Riding his luck

Justin Langer sliced the ball through the slips three times in Steve Harmison's first two terrible overs, but once he discovered the gods loved him he chanced his arm and seemed to be on his way to a big century when he was caught at 82 off his only uncertain stroke of a busy day. England had the sort of day that unhinges the best teams but it did not drop a catch and its panting bowlers worried all the batsmen even when the avalanche of runs was at its most powerful.

Defeat in this Test already looks inevitable and the nightmare of a 5-0 series drubbing _ with each Test lost by a small margin _ may be a reality by January.

Flintoff was the glue that prevented the side falling apart. Out of habit, or respect, or because they hoped he might bowl himself into the ground, Ponting and Co. failed to attack him when he pitched wide of the off-stump while he captured the wicket of Matthew Hayden who seemed detached from the game while Langer plundered runs at will from the wretched Harmison.

Flintoff added Langer to his pile and bowled his 16 overs at an economical 48 runs, shook up everyone who faced him and never so much as glanced at the ankle that kept him on the sidelines last summer.

Yet, despite the bad bowling before lunch, the plumb pitch and the heavy bats of men who might score runs against any bowling on earth, there were signs that on a more sympathetic wicket Australia might be vulnerable.

Exquisite cover drive

Ponting was able to show the full range of his shots, Langer as found as lovely cover drive as ever David Gower displayed and Michael Hussey used his quick feet to demonstrate that his future is assured. The oddest part of the day came late when Kevin Pietersen bowled nine overs of flighted off-spin for 28 runs. Pietersen began as a spinner but _ and this is the stuff of dreams too _ if he could develop this art even further, the growing number of left-handed batsmen had better watch out.

Ashley Giles also kept the batsmen on a tight leash so that the day was far from an Australian bonanza.

Yet, with so many runs scored and the Ponting-Hussey stand already worth 148, there is time for Australia to head for 750, for Ponting to attack Brian Lara's world Test record of 400 and for the England attack to be thoroughly cowed down with only a fifth of the series gone.

Even the most patriotic Australian baulks at that prospect. They have longed for a hardfought series and there is still that possibility. And remember how badly England lost the first Test of 2005 when the series was so tight a whole nation trembled. Even though Thursday was one-sided, it can happen again.

SCOREBOARD>/b>

Australia — 1st innings: J. Langer c Pietersen b Flintoff 82, M. Hayden c Collingwood b Flintoff 21, R. Ponting (batting) 137, D. Martyn c Collingwood b Giles 29, M. Hussey (batting) 63; Extras (lb-5, w-3, nb-6): 14; Total (for three wkts. in 90 overs): 346.

Fall of wickets: 1-79, 2-141, 3-198.

England bowling: Harmison 12-2-52-0, Hoggard 16-2-62-0, Anderson 18-4-88-0, Flintoff 16-2-48-2, Giles 18-2-51-1, Bell 1-0-12-0, Pietersen 9-1-28-0.

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TOP CENTURY MAKERS

35 _ Sachin Tendulkar Ind).

34 _ Brian Lara (WI) and Sunil Gavaskar Ind).

32 _ Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh (Aus).

29 _ Don Bradman Aus).

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