BRISBANE, Nov 20: Australia seized control of the opening cricket Test against New Zealand here Saturday on the back of a record double-century partnership between batting prodigy Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist.

The Kiwis, leading the world champions by 156 runs heading into the third day, fell behind by 211 runs after spending a frustrating day in the field chasing leather.

Clarke and Gilchrist powered centuries and shared in a 216-run sixth-wicket stand to swing the pendulum decisively back to the home side with two days to play.

Clarke cracked a majestic maiden century on his home Test debut with 141 off 200 balls, including 21 fours and a six, while No.7 Gilchrist claimed his 12th Test century with 126 off 151 balls, including 13 boundaries and four sixes.

Tailenders Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath rubbed more salt into Kiwi wounds with a record unbroken 93-run 10th wicket partnership over almost two hours that ramped up Australia's innings lead to beyond 200 runs to have the New Zealanders battling to survive on a cracking pitch.

McGrath played a fabulous cameo innings to claim his first Test half-century of 54 not out off 66 balls surpassing his previous highest score of 39 against the West Indies in Trinidad in 1999.

Fellow fast-bowler Jason Gillespie was only five runs off his highest Test score at stumps on 43 with Australia batting on at 564 for nine off 147 overs and occupying the crease for more than 10 hours.

Clarke and Gilchrist wrought the damage and were dismissed six balls apart after eclipsing the previous best sixth-wicket stand of 197 by Allan Border and Greg Matthews against the Kiwis at the Gabba in 1985-86.

Clarke, who raised his second Test hundred with an audacious four off the last ball before lunch, has now scored 541 runs in nine Test innings at a stunning 67.62.

"The hundreds were different conditions, different circumstances, I definitely can't compare them, they are both as special as each other," Clarke said.

"I was rapt to play my first Test in Bangalore, it was the day of my cricketing life, that is very special, but I've had most of my family here watching today.

"What an unbelievable day to see Glenn McGrath make his first Test 50, that's close to the best thing I've ever seen in Test cricket."

Following his 151 on Test debut in India last month, Clarke claims a unique batting feat: the 23-year-old right-hander joins Harry Graham as the only Australian batsman to score a hundred in his first Test innings away from home (107 v England at Lord's 1893) and in Australia (105 v England at Sydney 1894-95).

South African Kepler Wessels scored 162 while playing for Australia in his first Test innings at home against England at Brisbane in 1982-83 and 141 in his first Test innings away from home against Sri Lanka at Kandy in the same season.

New Zealand finally broke the prodigious partnership when Clarke advanced down the wicket and was bowled by off-spinner Daniel Vettori in the 107th over.

Gilchrist followed in the next over when he pulled pace bowler Chris Martin to deep mid-wicket, where Scott Styris took a fabulous catch.

His 12th century in his 61st Test equalled the most hundreds scored by a wicket-keeper along with Zimbabwe's Andy Flower.

Shane Warne was lbw to Vettori for 10 and Michael Kasprowicz holed out to Mills off Martin for five, but the exasperation just continued for the Kiwis, who still could not break up the 10th-wicket partnership when stumps were drawn under floodlights.

The New Zealanders toiled for few successes on the third day with Vettori slaving away for 50 overs for 4-154 and Martin 4-141 off 36 overs.

Their only wicket in the morning session came with the dismissal of Damien Martyn, fresh from his series-high 444 runs in India at 55.50.

Martyn added 11 to his overnight score to reach 70 before he played a poor shot off Martin inside the first half-hour's play.

Martyn attempted to lift an uppish delivery over slips but the ball went straight into the hands of Craig McMillan on the third-man boundary rope.

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