Australia played themselves into a position of strength on the second day of the Sydney Test as Ricky Ponting ended his year-long drought, registering his first century as Australia's Test skipper in style. The home team reached an impressive 340/4 at the close of play with Ponting still holding fort with an impressive 155. The dangerous Adam Gilchrist, promoted to No.6 in the absence of Darren Lehmann, was giving his skipper company.

But Pakistan only have themselves to blame for putting themselves into such a big hole. Day one saw Salman Butt in full flow on course to his maiden Test hundred. The left-handed opener, starting off the innings with Yasir Hameed this time, made easy meat of the Aussie bowlers as Pakistan looked well set to surpass 400. In fact, at one stage the visitors were nicely placed at 193/1 before the expected Pakistani collapse.

Both Yasir Hameed and Younis Khan provided great support to Butt as the Aussie bowlers struggled to make the breakthroughs. But once Macgill got rid of Younis Khan, Pakistan succumbed easily to his guiles and McGrath's accuracy. Both teams went into the game with a new-look side. While the Aussies decided to experiment with Stuart Macgill, which meant the in-form Kasprowicz had to be axed, and Shane Watson (in place of Lehmann), Pakistan were forced to ring in the changes as Inzi, Malik, Razzaq and Sami were all unfit for the Sydney Test.

After losing yet another golden opportunity to nail the Aussies, it was once again upto Shoaib Akhtar to bring Pakistan back into game. But this time the Aussies were well prepared to take on the 'Rawalpindi Express'. Pakistan though found their hero in Naved-ul-Hasan Raza who knocked out the in-form Justin Langer with a beautiful inswinger to which the latter had no answer. Matthew Hayden, short of runs in the last few games, then played an atrocious stroke to throw his wicket away. Hayden tried to swipe Danish Kaneria out of the SCG, only to find his furniture disturbed. Going into lunch having claimed two Australian wickets for less than 100, the Pakistanis had yet another opening in the series.

But like on all the previous occasions, this time too the Aussies walked away with the honours. Ricky Ponting looked invincible as the Aussies went on the rampage. At the other end, Damien Martyn carried on from where he left off in 2004. It has become a norm these days for Martyn to surpass 50 every time he strides to the centre. Looking set for yet another century, he danced down the track, only to be left stranded. He fell for 67, but his partnership of 174 with his skipper put Australia into a position of strength from where they could dictate terms.

Michael Clarke certainly thought so! The next Aussie superstar-in-the-making blasted a quickfire 35 before excess rush of blood led to his downfall. The 23 year-old looked in ominous form during his stay at the crease, but he will have to realise soon that patience too is important to succeed in Test cricket. For Pakistan, Danish Kaneria was the most successful bowler with three scalps. The leggie will have to play a big part if Pakistan want to strike back on day three. He will need some support from Shahid Afridi on a pitch that is expected to offer more and more turn as the days go by.

Australia undoubtedly hold all the aces from here on. But Pakistan still have one last hope left. If they can get rid of Ponting and Gilchrist early, the rest of the batting order is not that strong. Certainly one can't expect Gillespie and McGrath to score half centuries in every game. But even if that happens, the Pakistani batsmen will have to play out of their skins to give their bowlers a chance at glory. The odds are stacked heavily against the visitors. It will take something of a miracle for the out-of-sorts Pakistanis to fight back into this game. But miracles do happen in cricket. And all Pakistan can do is give it their all and hope for a pleasant New Year gift.