ASHES DAY ONE, FIFTH TEST – SESSION BY SESSION: Careless England allow Australia to seize control after bright start
- England began with 62 from openers thanks to Ben Duckett and Harry Brook
- But they lost four big wickets during a careless period in the afternoon session
- Mitchell Starc helped knock over England’s last three wickets in the evening
Australia closed day one of the final Test of the Ashes needing 222 after picking up four runs in the final over and bowling England out for 283.
Chris Woakes helped drag England to that score before he then dismissed David Warner as the Australians took to the bat.
The tourists will have a tally of 283 to surpass on Friday.
They dropped five catches, crucially Brook when he had scored just five. However, they will be the happier of the two teams ahead of day two.
Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH breaks down easy of Thursday’s three sessions.
Following a bright start to the final Test, a careless period in afternoon session cost England
MORNING SESSION shared (½ point each)
England began with 62 from their openers, thanks mainly to a run-a-ball 41 from Ben Duckett, and finished with some bold strokeplay from Harry Brook, lifting them to 131 for three by lunch.
In between, they lost three for 11, including Joe Root for five – and it would have been worse had Australia not dropped three chances.
Harry Brook helped lift England to 131 for three by lunch before their carelessness kicked in
AFTERNOON SESSION AUSTRALIA (1 point)
England pummelled another 119 off 24 overs, but lost four big wickets during a careless nine-over period. Moeen Ali, hampered by an inner thigh injury, missed a heave at Todd Murphy, and Ben Stokes got a good one from Mitchell Starc.
But Jonny Bairstow chopped on again, and Brook gave it away for 85. Chris Woakes and Mark Wood stopped the rot with handy runs.
Moeen Ali, hampered by an inner thigh injury, missed a heave at Todd Murphy
EVENING SESSION AUSTRALIA (1 point)
Starc helped knock over England’s last three wickets quickly, despite some meaty blows by Woakes.
In reply to 283, Australia’s openers then added an untroubled 49, before Woakes removed David Warner for the third time in a row for 24. But Usman Khawaja was holding the fort as the tourists closed on 61 for one.
VERDICT after day 1: australia in control ENGLAND (½ pt) Australia (2½ PTS)
Mitchell Starc helped knock over England’s last three wickets quickly, dismissing Ben Stokes in the process
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