Australian captain Ricky Ponting continued to wreak revenge for the 2005 Ashes loss by further plundering the English bowling on the second morning of the opening Test at the 'Gabba.
Ponting carved out his highest Test score in Brisbane and at lunch was unbeaten on 177 as Australia lifted itself into an unbeatable position at lunch on day two.
At the break, Australia was 4-427 with Michael Clarke not out 10.
Earlier, Ponting was involved in a record-breaking stand of 209 with Michael Hussey which topped Australia's previous best fourth-wicket partnership at the 'Gabba of 170 set by Graham Yallop and Kim Hughes against England 29 years ago.
Hussey looked on track for a century until - on 86 - he was beaten by a magnificent delivery from England captain Andrew Flintoff who, bowling around the wicket, got a ball to dart between Hussey's bat and pad to knock off stump out of the ground.
Flintoff was once again head and shoulders above any other bowler in the English attack with the figures of 3-64.
But in fairness, he did not have much to beat this morning as his pace bowlers once again failed to show any menace with the second new ball.
Most disappointing was 2005 spearhead Steve Harmison who was disgracefully erratic when finally recalled to the bowling crease and sent down another embarrassing collection of wides and long hops that troubled the England 'keeper more than Australia's batsmen.
- ANDREW RAMSEY