Centurions Hussey, Haddin in Gabba record stand

England survived tense final overs on day three of the first Test at the Gabba, reaching 19-0, but are still 202 runs adrift of Australia.
Andrew Strauss is eleven not out and Alastair Cook has six.

Strauss was struck on the pad to the first delivery of the innings from Ben Hilfenhaus, but avoided his second duck of the match.
Earlier, hundreds from Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin gave Australia an imposing total of 481 all out.

Steven Finn in his first Ashes appearance ended the innings with 6-125.

Australia were 481 all out in reply to England's 260 in the final session of the third day of the first Ashes test at the Gabba on Saturday.

Earlier, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin plundered centuries in a ground record partnership to put Australia well on top of England in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Saturday.

The pair batted throughout the third day to put on a ground record 293 runs and build up an imposing 176-run innings lead with seven sessions remaining.

Their belligerent stand trumped the previous Gabba record partnership of 276 between Don Bradman and Lindsay Hassett for the third wicket against England in 1946-47.

It was a demoralising day for fading England, who began promisingly but had little luck in the extended morning session, and fell away under the onslaught from the Aussie pair.

Hussey justified the selectors' faith in him to register his 12th Test century and ended a lean trot since his last hundred (134 no) against Pakistan in Sydney last January, 14 Test innings ago.

Haddin raised his third Test century and second against England by taking on highly-rated spinner Graeme Swann and slamming him over his head for six.

He scored 121 in the first Cardiff Test of last year's Ashes series and 169 against New Zealand in Adelaide in 2008.

England's agonies deepened when James Anderson put down Haddin on 113 in Stuart Broad's 29th over after the wicketkeeper had given an earlier chance on 63 when Alastair Cook could not take a running catch at long-off from Paul Collingwood's bowling.

England's fielding became ragged and there were several fumbles in the field as the Aussie pair continued to pick runs off their bowlers.

Australia had kept England out in the field for 140 overs and more than ten hours.

Hussey raised his century with a signature cover drive off Broad and was hugged by Haddin in an emotional embrace.

It was his third Ashes century and came up in 277 minutes off 197 balls with 15 fours and a six.

The runs began flowing after a torrid morning for the Australian pair with Hussey, in particular, having an lbw dismissal against him overruled by referral as England made use of the second new ball.

Hussey on 82 referred to the third umpire after he was given out lbw to Anderson in the third over of the second new ball.

Replays showed that Anderson's delivery was pitching just outside leg-stump. Umpire Aleem Dar's decision was overruled and Hussey survived.

Hussey had another "life" on 85 when an Anderson delivery appeared to hit his pads in front, but England had no referrals left to challenge and skipper Andrew Strauss could only shake his head in disappointment.