KEY POINTS:
Glenn McGrath returned triumphantly to test cricket to inspire Australia with a double strike which left England facing a gruelling fight just to save the first Ashes test at the Gabba.
Ten months out of test cricket have clearly not diminished McGrath's powers.
Despite only a limited build-up entering this series, the 36-year-old quickly removed both England openers late on day two to keep the tourists neck-deep in trouble.
Australia amassed a monstrous 602 for 9 declared partway into the final session and England was 53-3 at stumps - still needing 350 more runs to avoid the follow-on, with three days left on a wicket which is beginning to crack up.
McGrath's (2-25) removal of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook in successive balls thrilled a record Gabba test crowd of 39,315, which enjoyed another day of dominance by the home side.
Stuart Clark (1-9) also chimed in with the wicket of No 4 Paul Collingwood to press home Australia's advantage.
Ironically, it was McGrath's first wicket, which brought about some relief for the England top order, as Brett Lee was forced to leave the ground with a badly cut leg after he and Mike Hussey collided just before Hussey completed a catch to remove Strauss (12).
Lee walked off the ground after Hussey's spikes sliced through the speedster's pants and skin above his left knee and he returned about 30 minutes later.
The Australians' joy at Hussey's fine running catch - a first wicket for McGrath after spending almost all of 2006 out of the game to help wife Jane fight cancer - ceased immediately once they realised Lee was hurt.
But he was able to walk off the ground unassisted and he had the cut assessed by the team doctor and physiotherapist, who gave him the all-clear to return.
McGrath made up for the loss of Lee with his next ball by producing the perfect leg cutter, which squared up Cook (11) and had him caught by Shane Warne at slip.
Soon after, Clark had Collingwood (five) nicking behind, which left the visitors reeling at 42-3.
Ian Bell (13 not out) and Kevin Pietersen (six not out) guided England through to stumps.
Australia's total was the fifth-highest scored in this country in an Ashes test and featured one of the great innings, a superb 196 by captain Ricky Ponting.
Hussey (86) and Michael Clarke (56) also struck half-centuries, while Clark (39) and Lee (43 not out) added to England's miserable start to its Ashes defence with a 50-run stand from 46 balls.
Captain Andrew Flintoff (4-99) toiled manfully for England and was easily the pick of the bowlers, although most of the tourists' bowlers performed better yesterday.
Steve Harmison (1-123) improved slightly, but still struggled with his control and, as on Thursday, began the day with a wide.
With the cracks on the wicket starting to open and Warne to come into play, Ponting expected his attack to be tough work for England's batsmen.
"I think our bowlers will do a really good job on this wicket," Ponting told Channel Nine.
"The cracks are really starting to open up and it's becoming more up and down.
"Warney saw Pietersen turn a few last night, so he's pretty excited to get out there."
Scoreboard
Stumps,second day.
Australia
First innings (overnight 346-3)
J.Langer c Pietersen b Flintoff 82
M.Hayden c Collingwood b Flintoff 21R.Ponting lbw b Hoggard 196
D.Martyn c Collingwood b Giles 29
M.Hussey b Flintoff 86M.Clarke c Strauss b Anderson 56
A.Gilchrist lbw b Hoggard 0S.Warne c Jones b Harmison 17
B.Lee not out 43
S.Clark b Flintoff 39
G.McGrath not out 8
Extras (2b 8lb 8w 7nb) 25
Total (nine wkts decl, 155 overs) 602
Fall: 1/79, 2/141, 3/198, 4/407, 5/467, 6/467, 7/500, 8/528, 9/578.
Bowling: Harmison 30-4-123-1 (6w 1nb), Hoggard 31-5-98-2, (1nb), Anderson 29-6-141-1 (1w), Flintoff 30-4-99-4 (1w 3nb), Giles 25-2-91-1, Bell 1-0-12-0 (2nb), Pietersen 9-1-28-0.
England
First innings
A. Strauss c Hussey b McGrath 12
A. Cook c Warne b McGrath 11I. Bell not out 13
P. Collingwood c Gilchrist b Clark 5
K. Pietersen not out 6
Extras (4lb, 2nb) 6
Total (for 3 wkts, 17 overs) 53
Fall: 1/28, 2/28, 3/42.
Bowling: Lee 4-1-13-0 (1nb), McGrath 6-0-25-2 (1nb), Clark 6-2-9-1, Warne 1-0-2-0.
- AAP