Michael Hussey completed his third Ashes hundred, in an unbroken stand of 186 with Brad Haddin, as Australia ploughed into a damaging first-innings lead at the Gabba.

The sixth-wicket pair began their partnership with Australia still 117 runs behind on Friday afternoon, but by lunch on day three had more than doubled the total to help the hosts to a potentially match-controlling 329 in reply to an under-par 260 all out.

Hussey (124no) duly brought up his century with a supremely-placed drive off Stuart Broad wide of mid-off, for his 15th four to go with one six from 197 balls.

England's James Anderson, in particular, bowled very well with the second new ball - to no avail - in an eight-over spell on a sunny morning from the Vulture Street end. He beat the bat countless times but failed to find the edge.

Hussey, the aggressor on Friday, restricted himself to gradual consolidation.

Natural shot-maker Haddin (79no) continued initially to bat largely against type but was responsible for all Australia's boundaries in the first hour-and-a-half of an extended session. It took him 134 balls to reach his sixth Test fifty, but he did so with his sixth and seventh fours from successive balls - dispatching Steve Finn to the point fence off either foot.

England, already out of DRS options, suffered an early psychological blow when Hussey overturned an lbw decision on 82 after simulation indicated the ball from Anderson pitched just outside leg stump.

Three runs later, Hussey survived again when Aleem Dar this time turned down a similar appeal by Anderson - which might have proved successful, had England still had recourse to the third umpire.

It was not until Andrew Strauss introduced Graeme Swann, with Australia nine runs in front, that Hussey recorded his first four of the day - down the wicket and driven over mid-off to put him within one shot of his hundred.

Haddin was starting to go through the gears, and when England resorted to Paul Collingwood - with a hopeful ring on the drive - to give the frontline attack much-needed respite, the wicketkeeper-batsman immediately went over the top. His first attempt, on 63, gave England a half-chance. But Alastair Cook could not cling on with outstretched fingers running back from mid-off.