Justin Langer posted an unbeaten half century in his comeback test, guiding Australia to 109 for one Thursday in the first session of the series-opening Ashes match against England.

There was little of the fireworks expected on the first morning of a series that has been built up for 14 months as one of the biggest in test history.

Langer was 68 at lunch, stroking 10 boundaries from 87 balls, and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was not out 11.

Bidding to regain the Ashes after an upset 2-1 series loss in England last year, the Australians got an early boost by winning the toss and batting first _ always the preferred option at the Gabba.

Andrew Flintoff had the only breakthrough for the tourists before lunch, the England skipper having Matt Hayden (21) caught at second slip with the total at 79 to end the opening stand after 90 minutes.

He returned 1-18 in six overs, troubling the Australians in a threatening second spell.

Otherwise, the English bowlers were loose in the first session.

Langer dominated the opening stand, reaching 50 with a single to point off Flintoff.

But that single cost Australia, with Hayden edging to Paul Collingwood at second slip next ball after a scratchy 21.

The only other genuine chance of the morning also came off Hayden, slashing at Matthew Hoggard and getting a ball just past a diving Ian Bell at gully in the fifth over.

Steve Harmison struggled for rhythm from the first ball of the match, an appalling wide well outside Langer's reach that skewed off the pitch to Flintoff at second slip.

Langer worked him for two boundaries in that over, one whipped off his toes behind square and the other an edge through the slips.

Harmison was replaced by James Anderson after his first two overs cost 17 runs. He returned at the other end in another four-over spell, the sum total of his six overs costing 37 runs.

Hoggard returned 2-27, Anderson had 2-22 and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, recalled for his first test match in a year, conceded one run in the over before lunch.

The England attack got through only 25 overs, with four fast bowlers toiling in warm conditions in subtropical Brisbane after Australia raced to 50 in 48 minutes.

It took England 50 minutes to bowl a bouncer to Langer, playing his first test since being knocked out by a Makhaya Ntini bouncer at Johannesburg in April _ his 100th test.

Australia won the 2002-03 series 4-1 _ its eighth consecutive series win _ starting with a convincing victory at Brisbane after a tactical blunder by then captain Nasser Hussain.

Hussain won the toss in that match, but went against conventional wisdom and decided to bowl first at the Gabba _ a move that backfired when Australia reached 364-2 on the opening day.