Ashes 2017-18 Fifth Test, Day 1: Late strikes claw England back

England finished Day 1 on 233 for 5.

Malan is batting unbeaten on 55. (Getty)

England finished the first day of the final Test match in Sydney on the backfoot after late strikes in the form of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow pegged England on the backfoot. 

England won the toss and opted to bat first, however, a poor start from the openers jolted them early. Alastair Cook coming fresh from a double ton in Melbourne was expected to give a good start to the Lions, however, his long vigil at the wicket ended as Hazlewood trapped him LBW. He played 104 balls for his 39. 

Mark Stoneman and James Vince then both got starts but was dismissed by Pat Cummins just as they looked settled at the wicket. 

Post lunch Joe Root (83) and Dawid Malan (55*) added a 78 run stand and was looking good to take England to the shore on Day 1. It was just then that Mitchell Starc got the big fish in the form of the England skipper who was looking good to get a big one. 

Australian bowlers, on the other hand, kept getting wickets at regular intervals to limit the England batsmen from scoring big. Starc led the charge by dismissing Root while Cummins and Hazlewood got the other key wickets of Cook, Vince and Stoneman. That England also lost Bairstow just before stumps has shifted the balance of the game in Australia's favor. 

Brief Scores

England 5 for 233 (Root 83, Malan 55*, Starc 1 /63, Cummins 2/44) v Australia

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 04 Jan, 2018

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