BRISBANE: Australia captain Pat Cummins made a cracking start to his captaincy stint with a five-wicket haul as the hosts skittled out England for just 147 on day one of first Ashes Test at The Gabba here on Wednesday.
At tea, Australia were the happier side of the two, with all pacers ending with wickets against their name.
But with rain coming immediately after England were bowled out meant that the final session never happened and stumps had to be called early. The umpires inspected the pitch but eventually called off the day's play as bad light and wet outfield came into the equation. On a green pitch and overcast sky at The Gabba, Australia made inroads in the first session after England opted to bat first. Starc struck with the very first delivery of the Ashes, clean bowling Rory Burns around his legs.
The first-ball duck was also the sixth duck recorded by Burns in Test cricket this year.Josh Hazlewood caused more misery on England, drawing edges off bats of Dawid Malan and Joe Root to be pouched by Carey and David Warner at first slip, respectively to reduce England to 11/3. That soon became 29/4 as Ben Stokes, playing his first competitive cricket match since July, fended a rising delivery from Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip.Though Pope and Hameed lifted England to safety till lunch, neither of them could go on for long as resuming from 59/4 at lunch, Cummins struck in the very first over as Hameed nicked to Steve Smith at second slip.
Jos Buttler hit some exquisite boundaries to lead the attempt of a fightback with Ollie Pope, sharing a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket. But it didn't last long as Mitchell Starc cramped Buttler for room, forcing him to nick behind to keeper Alex Carey.
Three overs later, Pope departed, top-edging the hook to a running fine leg, giving Cameron Green his first Test wicket. From there, Cummins took over to take out England's tail quickly and grabbed his sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Brief scores: England 147 all out in 50.1 overs (Jos Buttler 39, Ollie Pope 35, Pat Cummins 5/38, Mitchell Starc 2/35) vs Australia. (IANS)
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