Australia finished the second day at 249 runs with loss of one wicket as both Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich slammed unbeaten centuries and put the Australia in commanding position in the first test match of the Ashes series at Cardiff.

Ponting scored unbeaten 100 runs with 8 boundaries while Katich smashed 8 boundaries in 104 runs to put up a partnership of 189 runs for the second wicket.

The only batsman who got out was P Huges who was dismissed by Andrew Flintoff at the individual score of 36 runs, while all the other bowlers remained wicket less.

Earlier in the day, England team returned to pavilion with 435 runs on the board after resuming form their overnight score of 336/7 as G Swann contributed unbeaten 47 runs lower down the order.

M Johnson and N Hauritz took three wickets each, while P Siddle sent two batsmen back to the pavilion.