Test 1 - Day 1

Quotable Quotes - from CricInfo
11:29 "They're [England] rustier than a bag of spanners left out in the winter rain"
11:31 "England have yet to board the plane, let alone become airborne"
2:10 "jagged back into Ponting at 88mph and it cuts him in half. Will Luke screams "ball of the day" but he's missed half of them as he keeps sneaking out for a fag "
2:23 "Hoggard's progress round the boundary was more Julie Christie than Linford Chrsitie and he bent for the ball like a 70-year-old as it trickled past him for four"
2:35 "Jones has to stretch and pluck from on high like a cherry picker reaching for a high branch"
2:45 on Harmison "A better over and the England players rush to congratulate him. Imagine what they will do if he takes a wicket ... "

Australia Dominate the First Session
Australia drew first blood by dominating the first session of the Brisbane Test Match. Justin Langer was the aggressor, scoring 68 off 87 delivering. He lived a charmed life with a number of edges and swishes - but none went to hand. Hayden was much more subdued, waiting for the loose deliveries and not taking any chances. He was dismissed by Flintoff in the only bright spark for England. Flintoff was the best bowler for England varying his pace and sticking to a consistent line which troubled all batsmen. Harmison and Hoggard struggled to find their rhythm and England will need them to fire in the afternoon if they hope to claw back the initiative.

Having scored at over 4 runs an over Australia have thrown down the challenge and made obvious their strategy of relentless attack.

Finally

Its been 437 sleeps since Australia lost the Ashes but its finally here. Today a rejuvinated and hungry Australia take on a committed England side for the first test in the most highly awaited test series since the end of the war. The last series in England was the first time since 1880 that no member of the Australian team partaking in the Ashes had played in a losing Ashes series. England, on the other hand, had no member who had played in a victorious Ashes Series. England had nothing to lose and Australia got complacent. England came out with all guns blazing and their performance in the second test match, after the defeat at Lords epitomised thier mentality and set the scene for the remainder of the series.

One would think that England, being the defenders, would start the series as favourites. Australia, however, have been the more dominant side since the Ashes loss and start as clear favourites. The side taking on the England today is not much different to the one that lost, with the most notable inclusion being Mike Hussey. England have been plagued by injuries and indifferent form, however their 4-0 victory over Pakistan recently would fill them with confidence.

Inspite of the predictions by most commentators, the series should be close, but defeating Australia at home is not easily done.