The fire and brimstone Gabba deck expected from the outset won't be on show at the first Ashes Test until at least day three, Australian quick Pat Cummins has warned.
There have been little fireworks on the field but plenty off it after cricket greats took aim at the uncharacteristically slow Brisbane wicket dished up for the Ashes opener.
Cummins claimed it was a wicket more similar to England than Australia after the usually juicy Gabba deck failed to offer bounce, pace or bite on the first day.
England resumed on Friday at 4-196.
Others were a little more forthright on the Brisbane wicket.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I think it's a rubbish pitch and they couldn't have given them (England) a better Christmas present before the start of this tour," former Australian batsman Dean Jones told Fox Sports.
Ex-Test quick Rodney Hogg delivered a verbal bouncer to curator Kevin Mitchell Junior, who will retire and end his 27 year Gabba career after the first Test.
"He should be taken away and locked up, Kevin Mitchell - it was like we presented England the start of the series," Hogg said on SEN Radio.
"How's the wicket fellas? What do you want for afternoon tea? We're just the perfect hosts aren't we?"
While Australia are looking for quick wickets early on day two armed with a new ball, Cummins believed the deck wouldn't resemble the Gabba of old until Saturday at the earliest.
"It got quicker that last session but I still think it will take another day or so to get back to the really quick Gabba that everyone is expecting," said Cummins, who combined with fellow quicks Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for the first time in a home Test.
"I thought the wicket out there was a bit English in that it was a bit slower.
"The wicket was a bit soft so they probably batted like they did back home."
Unheralded England No.3 James Vince relished the friendly conditions to stroke a Test-high 83 on his Ashes debut, sharing a 125-run second-wicket stand with opener Mark Stoneman (53) on Thursday after the visitors were reeling early at 1-2.
