As days at the office go, today was a fantastic one for the Australian cricket team. It could have gone either way this morning with the Pakistanis resuming at 6-280 but thanks to some excellent bowling and fielding in the first session and an unbelievable first wicket partnership between 'Slats' and 'Blewy' we are in a comfortable position this evening.

Everyone in the team knows there is a still mountain of work to do tomorrow but at least we have the foundation there to take charge of this Test match. When we took the field this morning our game plan was to contain the Pakistanis with a patient line and length. Barring a very aggressive innings from Moin Khan we achieved what we set out to achieve with Scotty Muller picking up his first Test wickets for Australia.

With two overs to face before lunch Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akthar looked in ominous form with the new Kookaburra ball. There is no worse time to bat than in a situation like that but our two openers in Slats and Blew got through to the break without losing a wicket. As if to set a trend for the day they then batted through the last two sessions to have us no wickets at stumps.

Where Slats was ruthless in his approach, his partner was as solid as the proverbial double brick house. In the last Tour tests they have enjoyed three century opening partnerships in setting up the good guys for bigger and better things. Good mates off the field these two are writing their own pages of history in terms of successful opening partnerships for Australia.

We are all hoping they continue on in the morning and if the rest of us can contribute to the cause then by stumps tomorrow night there could be more smiles than a three year old's birthday party. We have plenty to play for with the stage perfectly set for a ruthless display of Test match batting by the Aussie top order.

From Brisbane, JL