Australia wrap up first Ashes test

BRISBANE, Nov 27 (Reuters) Australia polished off England's lower order to wrap up a 277-run victory in the first Ashes test today and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

England lost their last five wickets for just 77 runs to be all out for 370 half an hour before lunch on the fifth day after resuming on 293 for five chasing an unlikely 648 to win.

It was a crushing victory for Australia and the perfect start to their bid to win back the Ashes they lost last year in England for the first time since 1989.

''It's a really pleasing start for us but it was the same in the last series, we won the first game and then things went wrong so we won't be getting carried away,'' Australia captain Ricky Ponting said in a televised interview.

Ponting paid tribute to the performances of experienced seam bowler Glenn McGrath and opening batsman Justin Langer.

''Glenn did a fantastic job, his bowling in the first things was superb. Justin Langer the same, he got the job done for us.'' England's slim hopes of batting through the final day to salvage a draw effectively ended on the fourth ball of the morning when Kevin Pietersen departed without adding to his overnight score of 92.

Pietersen had shared a 153-run stand with Paul Collingwood to stall Australia's march to victory but lost his partner for 96 late on Sunday. He missed out on his own hundred when he drove Brett Lee straight to Damien Martyn at midwicket.

Wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (33) and Ashley Giles (23) provided some resistance but the end came swiftly once they were out.

WIDE BALL Jones dragged a wide ball from McGrath back on to his stumps with the total on 326 and Giles was caught by Shane Warne at first slip off Stuart Clark on 346.

Matthew Hoggard was also caught by Warne off Clark for eight and Steve Harmison was last man out, hooking Clark to McGrath at fine leg on for 13. James Anderson was unbeaten on four and Clark completed figures of four for 72.

''We have played well in the last 24 hours, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood batted really well and it was important to get some runs,'' England captain Andrew Flintoff said.

''Australia played some good cricket from the start and put us under pressure.

''We had great preparation so we can't use that as an excuse.

We'll start preparing now for the next game in Adelaide.'' Ponting was named man of the match after making 196 in his team's first-innings total of 602 for nine declared and 60 not out in the second innings.

The second test starts in Adelaide on Friday.

Reuters DH DB0800