Australia make bright start

Australia 67-1 v England

The biggest first-day crowd at the Gabba since England played Australia four years ago proved that even if recent Ashes contests have been one-sided affairs interest here is still high. And so it was at the toss when Nasser Hussain, having called correctly elected to field. His decision would have been influenced by the slight tinge of green in the pitch and that this venue has a history of offering some assistance to the quicker bowlers on the first morning.

After the failure of Andrew Flintoff to convince the selectors he had fully recovered from a double hernia operation two months ago, Craig White stepped in to play his first Test in the country where he was raised. Australia had no such fitness worries and decided to give Andy Bichel a run on his home ground at the expense of the fast, but wayward, Brett Lee.

Following the National anthems, U2's "Beautiful Day" greeted the players arrival to the arena – and it was. With the sun out and the ground looking immaculate the stage was set.

Andrew Caddick opened the bowling and Australia got the scoreboard moving with the second ball of the day when Michael Vaughan fumbled one at backward point. This was not the start Hussain was looking for.

Both Caddick and Matthew Hoggard managed to get some early swing and initially asked questions of the Australian openers. Matthew Hayden was fortunate when a top-edged pull lobbed into no man's land behind Alec Stewart and Justin Langer almost gave a caught and bowled chance via his inside edge and pad.

However it did not take long before these two started to take control. Twice Caddick was driven down the ground for four by Hayden and Langer latched on to Hoggard each time he strayed on to his legs. The only other chance England had was a run out but Vaughan's throw missed the stumps.

Scoring at a run a minute the 50 partnership was posted with a three past Hussain at mid-on. Walking back he must have been already questioning his decision to put Australia in.

England won toss

AUSTRALIA – First innings
J L Langer c Stewart b Jones 32
M L Hayden 30
Extras (lb4, nb1) 5
Total (for 1, 14.3 overs) 67

Bowling: Caddick 6-0-24-0 (nb1); Hoggard 2-0-26-0.

To bat: R T Ponting, S R Waugh, D R Martyn, D S Lehmann, A C Gilchrist, J N Gillespie, S K Warne, A J Bichel, G D McGrath.

England: M E Trescothick, M P Vaughan, M A Butcher, *N Hussain, J P Crawley, ÝA J Stewart, C White, A F Giles, M J Hoggard, A R Caddick, S P Jones.

Umpires: S Bucknor (WI), R E Koertzen (SA).

TV Umpire: S J A Taufel.

Match referee: Wasim Raja (Pakistan).