Ricky Ponting's record-equalling 32nd Test century has formed the backbone of Australia's mammoth 3-346 at stumps on day one of the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba in Brisbane.
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England cut a jaded opponent with temperatures climbing in the afternoon sessions as the Australian captain and Ashes debutant Michael Hussey (63 not out) poured on the pressure after opener Justin Langer's free-flowing 82 earlier in the day.
Ponting finished unbeaten on 137, his ninth century in 12 Tests drawing him level with former skipper Steve Waugh as Australia's leading centurion. He has played 62 matches fewer than his predecessor.
In a trademark ton chock full of pulls and hooks as the line and length of England's pace attack wavered, Ponting also passed 5000 Test runs in Australia and is now just 61 runs shy of becoming the Gabba's leading Test match run-scorer, with only Greg Chappell ahead of him.
While the day undoubtedly belonged to Ponting, every one of Australia's batmen played their part after the captain had won the toss and elected to bat in favourable conditions.
It was a day of partnerships with the top order adding stands of 79, 62 and 57 before Ponting and Hussey's crowning undefeated fourth-wicket 148-run showpiece.
The pair never gave even a hint of a chance with Hussey, often an unsung hero, on course to retain his 75-run average when play resumes on Friday.
Only England captain Andrew Flintoff, who was wearing a black armband to mark the death of his wife Rachel's grandfather, looked dangerous for the tourists with the wickets of openers Matthew Hayden (21) and Langer either side of the lunch interval.
He finished the day returning 2-48 although, perhaps tellingly, bowled his 16 overs in six separate spells.
Ashley Giles, playing his first Test match for more than a year, claimed the other wicket when he dismissed Damien Martyn for 29.
Langer, who turned 36 earlier this week, had earlier set about the English attack and sped to his fifth Ashes half-century, taking advantage of the tourists' ill discipline with Steve Harmison (0-52) and James Anderson (0-88) the major culprits.
Harmison, who was under an injury cloud in the build-up after pulling out of the tour match against South Australia with a side strain, started on totally the wrong note with a first ball wide taken by Flintoff at second slip.
Langer, despite playing a handful of streaky strokes, made the most of the opportunities handed to him, the measure of his and Hayden's intent the fact 50 minutes had elapsed before the first single came off the bat.
However, it was no surprise that the England captain was the one to make the breakthrough the delivery immediately after Langer had scampered to his first half-century in 11 Test innings.
Bowling over the wicket, Flintoff squared up Hayden and the edge carried nicely to Paul Collingwood at second slip to hand the skipper his first English Test wicket on Australian soil.
Then, just when it looked as though another promising partnership was building, Langer lobbed an easy catch to Kevin Pietersen at point to end a free-flowing 82 that included 13 boundaries.
As Ponting, though, started to pile on the runs, Flintoff was forced to turn to the left-arm spin of Giles, who was playing his first Test match since facing Pakistan in Faisalabad last November after getting the nod over rookie finger spinner Monty Panesar.
And, although Martyn went straight on the attack, crashing his second delivery back over his head to the rope, Giles struck to the delight of the England camp.
The veteran spinner got good bounce to have Martyn caught by Collingwood at first slip as he tried to guide down to third man.
He finished with figures of 1-51 but England seems destined for a long day in the field on day two.
At the post-day media conference, Ponting played down his magnificent century and was just pleased to start the series in such a dominant manner.
"We have all been thinking about today for a long time so to be able to get out there and do it when it mattered was a nice start to the series for us," he said before adding a word of caution.
"But it is only one day in the series and we have to build on that on day two."
The skipper also said his team was buoyed by the opening delivery from a wayward Steve Harmison which ended up at second slip.
"After the first ball I think everyone lifted because it meant that the English might have been a little bit nervous out there and our openers took toll of anything that was loose."
Meanwhile, comeback spinner Ashley Giles admitted that nerves did get the better of the tourists.
"I'm surprised my first ball bounced and Steve's went to second slip - we were all pretty tense," he admitted.
"The bus was a quiet place this morning and being the first day of an Ashes series you know you are going to be nervous.
