Glenn McGrath claimed his 500th test wicket and added four more to haul Australia out of trouble against England on the opening day of the first Ashes test on Thursday.
His opposite, Steve Harmison, grabbed five wickets as England's bowlers ripped through the Australian batting lineup, dismissing the tourists for just 190 before tea.
But McGrath hit back with 5-21 from 13 overs as England finished the day on 92-7 in reply.
Test debutant Kevin Pietersen helped rally England from 21-5 by sharing a 58-run partnership with Geraint Jones, who was out for 30, caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist off the bowling of Brett Lee.
Ashley Giles was the last man out, hit wicket off Lee's bowling. Pietersen was not out 28.
Harmison's 5-43 from 11.2 overs included 4-7 in just 14 balls as England began its attempt to end Australia's 16-year hold on the trophy.
Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones claimed two wickets each, while Matthew Hoggard took one.
Harmison wrapped up the innings with the dismissal of tail-ender Jason Gillespie for his sixth five-wicket haul in 31 tests.
"There was a little bit of variation in the wicket," McGrath said.
"I thought the guys that hit the deck hard and probably extracted the most out of it -- Harmison, Flintoff -- I thought they bowled well today, as did the other bowlers, so I learned a little bit from that."
England went to tea at 10-0 but McGrath struck with the first ball after the break.
Marcus Trescothick became McGrath's 500th test victim when he was caught by Justin Langer at third slip for 4.
Just four balls later, McGrath had Andrew Strauss caught at first slip by Shane Warne for 2.
He then bowled England captain Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell and Flintoff in quick succession to take 5-2 in the space of 31 balls. It was his 27th five-wicket haul in tests and eighth against England.
Australia won the toss and batted, with openers Langer, who topscored with 40, and Matthew Hayden enduring a fiery opening spell from Harmison.
Langer was struck just above the right elbow by the second ball of the day and looked to be in considerable pain. He returned to the crease after on-field treatment.
A short time later, Hayden was struck on the helmet by a Harmison delivery but was unhurt.
His stay was short-lived, however, and ended when Hoggard bowled him for 12 on the last ball of the eighth over.
Ponting almost followed him back to the changing-rooms without scoring when he sent the second ball he faced to Pietersen at fourth slip, only to see him spill the catch.
Ponting looked in trouble again in the next over when he was hit on the right cheek by a Harmison ball. Ponting's helmet appeared to take some of the impact but he still suffered a nasty cut and was patched up on the field.
Ponting faced just 10 more deliveries before edging a catch to Strauss in the slips off the bowling of Harmison to be out for 9.
"I don't like it when people get hurt, there's bloodshed, or anything like that," Harmison said.
"It's unfortunate but it's the game, it's the way it is. You try and put people on the back foot, drag them forward and get them to nick it to slip.
"I bowl to get people out, I don't bowl to hurt people," he added.
Vaughan brought Flintoff into the attack in the 15th over with immediate effect, Langer skying a pull shot off his fourth ball for Harmison to take an easy catch at square leg.
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