Spearhead Glenn McGrath has proved his doubters wrong with two early wickets in the first Test at the Gabba to leave England a mammoth 350 runs behind the follow-on at the end of the second day.
At stumps on day two, England is 3-53 with Ian Bell unbeaten on 13 and Kevin Pietersen six not out chasing Australia's 9(dec)-602.
The third highest-ever Test total at the Gabba was established on the back of half-centuries from Justin Langer, Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke as well as Australian captain Ricky Ponting's exquisite 196.
In reply, with England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook still needing to fend off 23 final session overs, both fell victim to the ever-dangerous McGrath within consecutive deliveries of the opening six.
First Strauss (12), who notched two centuries in the last Ashes campaign in England, played a reckless shot which was picked off by Hussey at deep backwards square after racing 20 metres to claim the catch.
The only worrying moment was his collision with Brett Lee in the deep with Lee leaving the ground for an over to have running repairs on a gashed left knee although no stitches were required.
Then, fellow left-hander Cook (11) fell to an excellent delivery from McGrath coming round the wicket.
Cook, a former under-19 captain and England's young cricketer of the year, outside edged to Shane Warne at first slip to give McGrath two in two balls.
Paul Collingwood fended away the 36-year-old's hat-trick ball but neither he nor Bell looked comfortable against the pinpoint accurate Stuart Clark who had replaced the injured Lee at the Stanley Street End.
Bell, fresh off three consecutive centuries against Pakistan in the English summer, fished outside off stump with Collingwood also deceived before nicking one to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
McGrath finished the day with the figures of 2-25 with Clark returning 1-9.
Earlier, Ponting surpassed his previous highest score against England - 156 from the drawn third Ashes Test last year - with a fluent 196 featuring 24 boundaries.
Ponting and Hussey's 209-run fourth-wicket partnership was the best at the Gabba, beating the 30-year old Test record of 198 runs between West Indians Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharran.
