Hussey, Haddin tons put Australia in command against England in Ashes opener

BRISBANE - Australian batsmen Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin hit centuries on Saturday to lift the hosts to a commanding 221-run first-innings lead over England on day three of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Hussey scored 195, while Haddin struck 136 in a 307-run game-changing partnership, as Australia made 481 in reply to England’s score of 260.

It was 35-year-old Hussey’s highest Test score and his 12th hundred, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Resuming at Australia’s overnight score of 5-220, the seven-hour partnership finally ended when Haddin was caught at slip off Graeme Swann’s bowling at 6-450.

Haddin thumped 16 fours and one six from 287 deliveries.

The pair’s partnership is the third highest for the sixth wicket in Australian Test history, 39 runs shy of the 346 by Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton against England at the MCG in 1936-37.

Steven Finn finished as England’s best bowler, as he took the last four wickets to fall and finished with career-best figures of 6-125 from 33.4 overs.

James Anderson (2-99 from 37 overs) and Broad (0-72 from 33 overs) swung the ball prodigiously at times early in the day, but were unsuccessful in getting any breakthroughs for the visitors.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann finished with figures of 2-148 from 43 overs.

England were 19-0 in the 15 overs they had to face before the end of the day’s play.

Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on 11 and Alistair Cook was six not out.

Brief Scorecard:

England: Ist Innings:- 260 (Bell 76, Cook 67, Siddle 6-54)

Australia: Ist Innings:- 481 (Hussey 195, Haddin 136, Finn 6-125)

England: Second Innings:- 19-0 (Strauss 11 not out, Cook six not ut) (ANI)