Centuries from Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich have put the tourists in a strong position at the end of day two of the first Ashes Test.

The Australians finished on 249 for one in Cardiff, replying to England's 435.

Ponting, the fourth-highest run scorer at this level, passed 11,000 Test runs on his way to his 38th Test hundred. Katich struck an unbeaten 104, his highest score against England.

Katich did offer a half-chance to Andrew Flintoff early on and also escaped what appeared a plumb leg before shout to Graeme Swann, on 56.

England's returning all-rounder Flintoff provided a breakthrough during a hostile post-lunch spell of 6-2-15-1, with the loss of Australia's new batting star, Phillip Hughes.

Flintoff peppered him with 90-mile-per-hour bouncers and was rewarded in his fourth over when he located the inside edge and wicketkeeper Matt Prior took a low catch.

But it was the solitary success for Andrew Strauss' team, who resumed by blasting 99 runs for their final three wickets in 75 minutes this morning.

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