Hayden bludgeoned the Zimbabwe attack after tea

Matthew Hayden was within 20 runs of his highest score as Australia eased to 372-3 on day one against Zimbabwe.

The left-handed opener was unbeaten on 183 at the Waca, hitting 23 fours and three sixes in his 15th Test century.

Hayden and skipper Steve Waugh took the game by the scruff of the neck in the evening session, adding 169 runs.

The pair's unbeaten partnership stood at 173 at stumps, with Waugh 61 not out and in sight of his first Test century at the Perth ground.

Sean Ervine was the pick of the Zimbabwe attack, dismissing Justin Langer (26) and Ricky Ponting (37).

Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak won the toss for his country's first Test in Australia and took the surprise step of putting the home team in.

Langer is powerless to stop the ball breaking his stumps

Langer and Hayden gave Australia a flying start by picking off some wayward new-ball bowling by Streak and Andy Blignaut.

The total had reached 43 in the ninth over when Langer played on to Ervine, who had been brought on as first change.

Ponting made a typically confident start to his innings and Australia were 93-1 at lunch.

Hayden's half-century arrived following the re-start when he lofted spinner Ray Price over mid-on for his seventh four and the second-wicket stand had reached 59 when Ervine found a way through Ponting's defence.

West Australian Damien Martyn was sent in at number four and showed he had fully recovered from a finger injury with three quick boundaries to force Ervine out of the attack.

Playing in his first Test appearance since the Ashes, Martyn moved serenely to 53 before surprisingly misjudging an attempted cut and edging Trevor Gripper to Craig Wishart at slip.

Martyn's dismissal came just four overs before tea, and with Australia 203-3 at the final interval Zimbabwe were on good terms with themselves.

But the final session belonged solely to the hosts, with Hayden hitting the accelerator after reaching triple figures following the resumption of play.

The Queenslander sped from 100 to 150 in just 32 balls with a display of typically robust strokeplay, while Waugh was not content as a support act and even found time to loft Gripper over mid-wicket for six.

The addition of 21 runs on day two will see Hayden surpass the 203 he scored against India in Madras in 2001.

Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Adam Gilchrist, Andy Bichel, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Brad Williams (12th man).

Zimbabwe: Heath Streak (capt), Dion Ebrahim, Trevor Gripper, Mark Vermeulen, Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Tatenda Taibu, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Andy Blignaut, Ray Price (no 12th man nominated).