Ponting on form as Aussies hit back

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The Australia captain brought up the milestone when he progressed to 40 this afternoon and also helped his side reach 142 for one at tea in the first npower Test after finally dismissing England for 435.

Ponting teamed up in an unbroken 82-run partnership with opener Simon Katich to help thwart England's hopes of making further inroads after all-rounder Andrew Flintoff dismissed Phillip Hughes shortly after lunch.

He joins India's Sachin Tendulkar, West Indies' Brian Lara and fellow Australian Allan Border in reaching the milestone and helped his side overcome a shaky morning session, when England were able to add 99 in 16.5 overs before their innings was halted.

Earlier, last man Monty Panesar lasted only four overs before becoming the only member of England's line-up not to reach double figures when he was caught at slip off Hauritz to end the innings and give enough time to bowl seven important overs at Australia's openers before lunch.

Hoping to make early inroads before the interval, England instead struggled to make an impact with hard-hitting opener Hughes underlining his potent threat with a flurry of early boundaries.

Dismissed cheaply in both innings by Steve Harmison during last week's match against England Lions at Worcester, England knew the dangers of allowing Hughes width outside off-stump after gathering reports of his performances during a successful stint with Middlesex at the start of the summer.

But England struggled to find the right line and length and Hughes hit four boundaries before the interval, with Broad being removed from the attack after his first two overs cost 14 runs.

It took the introduction of Flintoff straight after lunch to make the breakthrough when he tempted Hughes into edging behind attempting to cut for 36 to bring Ponting to the crease.

Ponting looked comfortable straight away and helped Katich, dropped on 10 in his follow through by Flintoff, reach his half-century shortly before the interval, while the Australia captain was poised on an unbeaten 44.