AUSTRALIA demonstrated their ruthless intent to learn from the mistakes of 2005 with two of the survivors of that Ashes defeat leading an impressive fightback to establish a strong position in the opening npower Test.

Having surrendered the initiative to England on the second morning in Cardiff, allowing their tail-enders to add a crucial 99 runs, the momentum shift in the match appeared to have turned away from Australia.

But captain Ricky Ponting and opener Simon Katich, who both featured in the shock Ashes defeat four years ago, delivered defiant centuries to guide Australia into a strong position with outstanding displays of resilience and composure.

Their unbroken 189-run stand guided Australia to an imposing 249 for one by the close, trailing England by just 186 runs, and signalled their great desire to secure a firm grip on the series at an early stage.

While three of England’s batsmen - Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior - passed 50 but were unable to translate that into a major innings, neither Ponting or Katich looked likely to be distracted from their objective.

It was a stunning turnaround in fortunes from the start of the second day when England resumed on 336 for seven with low expectations of withstanding Australia’s attack for long with a new ball only 10 overs old.

The prospect of England reaching 400 looked even more bleak with budding all-rounder Stuart Broad being bowled off his thigh pad in only the fourth over by left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson.

Instead of capitulate, however, England demonstrated their resilience with Graeme Swann leading a defiant counter-attack, hitting an unbeaten 47 off 40 balls and dominating a 68-run stand off only 53 balls with nightwatchman James Anderson.

Swann, undaunted by the odd glimpse of extravagant turn from Australian off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, launched the same bowler for three fours in his first over after he had been brought into the attack to try and stem England’s scoring rate.