KEY POINTS:
Phil Jaques scored an unbeaten 68 to lead Australia to a strong position at 161 for one at tea on the first day of the first cricket test against Sri Lanka yesterday.
Jaques shared an unbroken 92-run stand with captain Ricky Ponting, who is 43 not out at the interval.
Sent into bat on a green-looking Gabba pitch, Australia made a cautious start, going to lunch at 22 without loss from 11 overs in a rain-affected first session.
Matthew Hayden, who had formed the second most successful test opening pairing in history alongside the retired Justin Langer, hit five fours in his 63-ball innings of 43.
Muttiah Muralitharan, not usually known for his athletic fielding, took a running catch at cover to dismiss the aggressive Hayden off the bowling of Chaminda Vaas with Australia at 69 for one.
A nervous Jaques, playing his third test and first since Langer's retirement, took 34 balls to get off the mark this morning.
But the puzzling decision to leave the slinging pace sensation Lasith Malinga out of the Sri Lankan side played into Australia's hands, with Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof failing to capitalise on seam-friendly conditions.
Jaques reached his second test half-century from 125 balls.
- AAP
