Ponting delighted by Australia's start

BRISBANE, Nov 23 (Reuters) Australia captain Ricky Ponting was delighted with his team's start to the Ashes series but warned against getting too carried away.

Ponting scored an unbeaten 137 to help his team pile on 346 for three on the first day to grab the early initiative in their bid to regain the Ashes from England.

''To start the series off on that note was satisfying,'' Ponting told a news conference today.

''We've all been thinking and preparing for today for a long time so to be able to get out there and do it when it mattered was nice.'' Ponting said Australia had planned to attack England's bowlers from the outset in the hope of putting them under pressure and the ploy worked a treat.

Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden took the total to 50 in the 11th over and while both fell to Andrew Flintoff, they gave Australia enough momentum to keep pushing forward.

''We were hoping to get off to a very good start in the first hour of play today and win the first session and we did that,'' Ponting said.

''Our batters got on top and put England under pressure from the start and that's what we didn't do in the last Ashes series.

''After waiting such a long time, we're looking forward to trying to push that advantage tomorrow.'' While Ponting declared himself happy with his team's start, he was keen not to overstate their position, saying it was only the first day of the series and anything could happen.

''It's been a nice start to the series for us but in saying that it's only a start,'' he said.

''It's only one day down of the series and we've got to do it all again tomorrow... and I'm looking forward to getting back out there and hopefully building a really big first innings total.

''They (England) haven't had a great day today but that happens quite a lot in test cricket.

''You can have an ordinary day then have a brilliant start to tomorrow and the whole game can be turned around again.

We've see that happen time and time again.'' REUTERS AY VC1515