Ponting misses 200 but Australia pile on runs

BRISBANE, Nov 24 (Reuters) Ricky Ponting fell agonisingly short of a double-century after helping Australia build a daunting first-innings total in the opening Ashes test against England today.

The Australian skipper was trapped lbw by Matthew Hoggard for 196 as the world champions piled on the runs to reach 528 for eight at tea on the second day at the Gabba.

Brett Lee was unbeaten on 16 with Stuart Clark expected to join him after the interval.

Michael Clarke, called into the side to replace injured all-rounder Shane Watson, was dismissed for 56 just before tea, caught at slip by Andrew Strauss off the bowling of James Anderson.

England captured four wickets between lunch and tea with Hoggard dismissing Adam Gilchrist lbw for a duck and Steve Harmison removing Shane Warne for 17. Andrew Flintoff clean bowled Mike Hussey for 86 in the first session.

Hussey and Ponting shared a record fourth-wicket partnership of 209 after coming together before tea on day one, setting a new mark for the highest fourth-wicket stand in a test at the Gabba and a record for the biggest fourth-wicket partnership in any Ashes test played in Australia.

The left-handed Hussey seemed certain to reach his hundred until he was beaten for pace by Flintoff who knocked his off stump out of the ground with the total on 407.

Ponting, who batted 463 minutes, faced 319 balls and hit 24 fours, also looked to be on his way to a double-century when he added 59 to his overnight score of 137 but fell short when he strode across the crease and was struck below the knee roll.

Hoggard, who had bowled too full in the first session as he searched for some swing, grabbed a second wicket three balls later when he deceived Gilchrist, and Warne gave the erratic Harmison his first scalp when he gloved an attempted hook.

England's main strike bowler had made a nervous start to the series yesterday when he opened with a wide that veered straight to second slip and was even more wayward on day two.

He bowled four wides and a no-ball in the first session and had to abort another delivery when he lost the rhythm on his run-up.

Anderson also had his problems, bowling too short on the bouncy pitch, but got rid of Clarke in the last over when the Australian was starting to look dangerous.

REUTERS AY VV1057