England vow to fight back after slow start to test

BRISBANE, Nov 23 (Reuters) England spinner Ashley Giles hasn't given up hope of winning the opening Ashes test after Australia dominated the first day today.

England spent a long difficult day in the sun as Australia's batsmen went on the rampage to pile on 364 for three to take control of the match.

England were thrashed by 384 runs in the corresponding match four years ago after ending the first day in similar trouble, but Giles said the tourists were better equipped this time.

''This side doesn't lie down so I'm sure we'll be back in the morning coming out fighting,'' Giles told a news conference.

''The guys will keep their heads up. The guys are tired, obviously, but I know this England team and tomorrow the boys will come out buzzing.

''We'll be looking to pick up some early wickets, that's all we can do.'' Giles, who was given the nod ahead of Monty Panesar to play his first test in a year, said the England players were a bundle of nerves on the first day.

''PRETTY TENSE'' ''We were all pretty tense. The bus was a quiet place this morning,'' Giles said.

''We've all been there before, the first day of an Ashes series, but you can't really prepare that well for it.

''You know you're going to be nervous and you've got to get yourself into it.'' It became clear to everyone just how nervous the tourists were when the first ball of the series, bowled by express paceman Steve Harmison, went straight to Andrew Flintoff at second slip and was called a wide.

''There's no explanation he's given me. He said the ball slipped and that's as much as I know,'' Giles said.

''I know he was very nervous. You could see that in him and I could feel that in myself.

''I'm surprised my first ball bounced to be honest.'' REUTERS SAM BS1539