Smith, Head and Warner give Australia opening-day honours

Australia 339 for five (Smith 85*, Head 77, Warner 66, Root 2-19, Tongue 2-88) vs England

It could solely have been day six of the sequence, however as Smith and Head have been combining so as to add 118 in a bit over 20 overs for the fourth wicket, it felt as if Australia have been taking a major step in direction of having a stranglehold within the Ashes. An in depth-of-play complete of 339 for five could but find yourself proving decisive however England have been clinging on.

Head had performed in what has change into his trademark model as he flayed 77 from 73 balls, catching up with Smith who had a 43-run head begin when he joined him on the crease. However having deposited Root down the bottom he couldn’t resist making an attempt once more and this time he was crushed convincingly, though Nathan Lyon can have famous the activate supply.

Two balls later Cameron Inexperienced performed a really out-of-character hoick, miscuing Root to mid-off, and Australia’s good work was at risk of unravelling. Nevertheless, Smith remained immovable and was closing in on Check century No. 32 on the bottom the place he was felled and concussed by Jofra Archer 4 years in the past. As had been anticipated, there was not going to be two Checks in a row the place he and Marnus Labuschagne didn’t contribute.

Though Australia didn’t initially race away with the scoring – they have been 39 for 0 after 17 overs – that they had weathered the early window, albeit with a little bit bit of excellent fortune going their manner. Warner had not been afraid to attempt the unconventional, twice stepping exterior off stump to successfully sweep Broad, the primary of which introduced smiles between the batter and bowler.

Warner, who handed his tally from the 2019 Ashes in three innings this time, scored extra freely than Khawaja and it appeared the pair would take Australia to lunch with out loss. Nevertheless, Tongue, whose first three overs had price 24 – together with a hooked six by Warner to achieve fifty – introduced one again down the slope and Khawaja judged poorly as he left it alone.

Labuschagne, coming off 0 for 13 at Edgbaston, nonetheless didn’t seem fairly at his finest however didn’t need to entrance as much as Broad early – he had confronted 29 balls by the point Broad was introduced on. Broad’s comeback over concerned drama with Smith who started by taking consecutive boundaries and was then given caught behind however the DRS confirmed daylight between bat and ball.

Labuschagne began to search out his groove with three boundaries in an over off Broad and one other brace off Stokes because the scoreboard rattled alongside. Then he, too, made use of the DRS when given lbw shouldering arms to Broad in opposition to one which nipped down the slope however was proven to be going over off stump. Two overs later, England used a assessment in opposition to Labuschagne, however the ball had been trapped off the within edge.

The partnership had simply handed 100 shortly after tea when Ollie Robinson discovered Labuschagne’s exterior edge to offer England a gap. However they bowled poorly to Head and he was away to a flying begin by dispatched two brief, broad deliveries from Robinson by the off facet.

Tongue, the quickest of England’s assault, was briefly used for a short-pitched plan in opposition to Head with the sphere unfold far and broad however he threaded the hole on the leg facet to achieve fifty from 48 balls. A repeat of the Gabba, the place he scored a century within the last session of the day, was on the playing cards earlier than the spirit of journey introduced his downfall. Smith and Alex Carey negotiated the closing phases, together with two overs in opposition to the second new ball, however whereas Australia should not out of sight England are already taking part in catch up.