Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer both made centuries as Australia appeared set to pile on another big score on the first day of the fourth Ashes test against England on Thursday.
Australia, who have already won the first three Tests of the five-match series by comprehensive margins, were 235 for two at tea.
Ricky Ponting was bowled by Craig White for 21 on the last ball before the interval and Langer was unbeaten on 108.
Hayden and Langer, who took 10 runs from the first over of the day on their way to their eighth century stand, added 195 for the first wicket.
They bettered a 95-year-old record for Australia against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The previous record for an Australia opening partnership against England in Melbourne of 126 was set by Victor Trumper and Monty Noble in 1907-08.
Hayden's bold innings of 102 off 148 balls ended when he hit a catch to John Crawley at mid-off from the bowling of Andy Caddick in the 45th over.
The tall, muscular 31-year-old from Queensland hit 10 fours and three sixes.
Hayden scored his 12th Test century and third in the current series with a streaky pull shot to fine leg, which Caddick failed to reach in a diving effort.
Hayden raised both arms in celebration.
Langer reached his hundred with a four and a six in consecutive balls from the bowling of off-spinner Richard Dawson in the 48th over.
The 32-year-old Western Australian's 13th Test century came in 205 minutes from 135 balls with 15 boundaries and a six.
Australia were 88 without loss at lunch before the openers unleashed a savage hour of batting, adding 99 runs to take drinks at 187 for none with Langer on 87 and Hayden on 98. Australia added 147 in the two-hour
Earlier, Australia captain Steve Waugh won the toss and elected to bat on a brown-looking wicket which appeared to contain little early life for the seam bowlers.
Hayden, who has averaged 94.00 in the first three matches of the series, suffered a brief injury scare in the ninth over when he was struck on the knee by a ball from Andy Caddick.
The left-hander resumed after a short break and with his 24th run reached the milestone of 3,000 Test runs including 400 in the current series.
Hayden had two lucky breaks when yet to score and also on 33 when he played pull shots, which England failed to grasp.
In the first over he hit Caddick over fine leg fieldsman Steve Harmison's head for a boundary.
Another lusty hit to deep backward square leg was missed by Crawley who appeared to have trouble sighting the ball out of the stands and it bounced in front of him before trickling over the boundary rope.
England made three changes to the side that lost the third Test in Perth by an innings and 48 runs, promoting reserve wicketkeeper James Foster after Alec Stewart was unavailable because of a bruised hand.
Caddick returned for the injured Chris Silverwood after Caddick himself missed the third Test through injury. Batsman Crawley replaced fast bowler Alex Tudor.
Australia made two changes, including batsman Martin Love for his Test debut and recalling leg-spinner Stuart MacGill for injured pair Darren Lehmann and Shane Warne.
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