England already facing a winter of discontent
Ponting sympathises with England's lax attack
Over-by-over report
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CLOSE OF PLAY - Australia 346-3
A fine start for the Australian batsmen. Ricky Ponting hit an unbeaten century, Justin Langer played beautifully for 82, and Mike Hussey stands not out on 63 against a struggling England. Steve Harmison lacked pace today, Matthew Hoggard and James Anderson swing, and Ashley Giles turn - though he did bowl to a consistent length. To the bemusement of our man in the ground, Geoffrey Dean, the Barmy Army failed to impose upon the drama, too. Andrew Flintoff's men will need to improve tomorrow.

Australia 346-3 - (Ponting 137 Hussey 63)
Anderson concludes the day with a maiden. At last, he finds swing, too, one ball only narrowly missing the bat en route to slip. Too late for England, though.

Australia 346-3 - (Ponting 137 Hussey 63)
Hoggard completes the penultimate over. One rejected lbw shout, and a glimmer of swing. Australians, though, are taking no risks.

Australia 341-3 - (Ponting 133, Hussey 58)
Expensive over from Anderson, who has bowled well only in spells. England had success in the last Ashes series partly because Flintoff and Simon Jones found reverse swing in the later sessions. Almost none today, though.

Australia 333-3 - (Ponting 129, Hussey 58)
Still no new ball. Instead, Hoggard battles on forlornly with the day-old Kookaburra. In the background, a chorus of "Barmy Army" grows louder.

Australia 327-3 - (Ponting 128, Hussey 52)
Finally, Flintoff's loosens up as Giles sees off the old ball. Geoffrey concludes probably his final post before turning to his match report:

Quite what had happened to the Barmy Army's voices, no one really knew: not one ditty sung. Talk of a Pommie invasion may be misplaced.

Australia 320-3 - (Ponting 123, Hussey 52)
Flintoff is withholding the new ball, presumably because Pietersen is still turning the old one. Encouraging for England, more so for Shane Warne.

Australia 313-3 - (Ponting 118, Hussey 49)
Hussey nudges a single to bring up his 50. Somewhere else in the ground, Geoffrey Dean is eyeing those on the booze:

Many of those trapped in what had been a hot sun have vacated their seats, feeling they've earned the right for a beer. As the shadows have lengthened, so have the bar queues.

Jealous, Geoff?

Australia 310-3 - (Ponting 117, Hussey 47)
Andrew Flintoff leaves the field, prompting the return of Ed Joyce and thoughts of the arguments over the use of substitute fielders in the last Ashes series. No complaint from Ponting, though.

Australia 306-3 - (Ponting 116, Hussey 44)
As a younger player at Natal, Pietersen was a spinner first, slogger second. Finding yet more turn, he forces Hussey to play more defensively.