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Ashes First Test, Australia vs. England: Live coverage from the Gabba

Pat Cummins hit back hard for Australia in the final session to remove both James Vince and England captain Joe Root.

Wayne Smith and Peter Lalor
19 min read
8:44PMNovember 23, 2017.
Updated 9:31AMNovember 24, 2017
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Pat Cummins had a big day for Australia, taking two key wickets, including that of Joe Root. Picture: AP
Pat Cummins had a big day for Australia, taking two key wickets, including that of Joe Root. Picture: AP

FOLLOW THE DAY TWO ACTION LIVE HERE

Day one of the first Ashes Test is over with England 4-196 at stumps. The highlights were a brilliant run out of James Vince by Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins was the pick of the Aussie pace brigade with 2-59. Join us again tomorrow from 10.30 AEDST.

England won the toss and skipper Joe Root watched with glee as a dropped catch, 95-minute rain delay and 125-run partnership between Vince and Mark Stoneman frustrated the hosts.

England were sitting pretty at 1-127 when Cummins removed Stoneman in the final over before tea, kissing the top of middle stump with a cracking delivery. Root then survived the remaining four deliveries of the session before starting an intriguing battle with Lyon.

Lyon, who came on after just 17 overs because the Gabba pitch offered his pace colleagues little assistance, bowled with great control and was arguably Australia’s most-potent threat.

Root appeared rattled and attempted an ungainly reverse-sweep on 15. The captain survived that mis-step but was trapped lbw on the same score by Cummins, with Steve Smith successfully reviewing Marais Erasmus’ not-out verdict.

Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali, who swept Lyon for the only six of the innings, batted out the day to leave the first Test evenly placed.

SEE BELOW FOR A LOOK BACK AT HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED

Wayne Smith 7.34pm: Honours even at stumps

That’s stumps, as England go off a few minutes early at 4-196, with the umpires ruling the light wasn’t fit for play. Malan, having just survived an lbw appeal from Starc, was unconquered on 28, with Ali on 13.

It was, in an odd way, a day when both sides would have felt that honours were shared. England would have been satisfied with getting through the day for the loss of only four wickets - just three of them falling to the bowlers - but the Australians could at least content themselves that they never let the opponents score quickly.

Play resumes at 9.30 Brisbane time tomorrow.

7.11pm: Australia take the second new ball

And Mitchell Starc has it as Australia push for a fifth wicket very late in the day. Starc is charging in.

Wayne Smith 6.45pm: Root removed

WICKET And this time it’s of the England captain Joe Root, lbw to Cummins for 15. Initially umpire Marias Erasmus shook his head and turned down the raucous Australian appeal. Perhaps he thought Root had got an inside edge to it.

Perhaps he thought it had hit him outside the line of off-stump. But the replay showed that there was nothing to save him. Cummins had bowled a magnificent delivery, spearing in on middle stump and there was nothing Root could do about it.

Mohin Ali strode to the wicket to join a fragile-looking Ali and it was clear that England would face an awkward final 20 minutes.

6.24pm: Malan far from magnificent

The Australians are getting right on top here at the end of the day and Dawid Malan looks quite nervy out in the centre. He has played and missed at a couple with a few false strokes as well. His form against top line opposition is hardly great either. Against South Africa in 2017 he averaged just 8.75 across four Test innings.

Wayne Smith 5.58pm: Nice Garry

WICKET And it’s captured by Lyon. But not Lyon the off-spinner; Lyon the point fieldsman. Vince knew from the moment he pushed the ball out into the vacant cover area that it was going to be a harem-scarem single - and so it proved. Lyon swooped onto the ball and, with only two stumps to aim at, he unerringly let fly. All those endless hours of practice the Australians put in, where they repeatedly throw at stumps set up in a mini-soccer goal, paid off sensationally as Lyon’s throw beat Vince by a metre. He didn’t even bother to dive.

He might have been dropped on 68 by Paine off, who else, Lyon, but he quickly put that setback behind him and looked on course for his first Test century when he was abruptly cut short on 83. England had slid to 3-148 as Dawid Malan came out to join his skipper.

5.42pm: In-Vince-able

As England push towards the 150 mark and the run rate continues to go at the snails pace of 2.44 it needs to be noted that James Vince is pushing up on nearly double his best Test score. he’s batted well all day to be 83 off 169 balls, with his two previous best efforts a pair of 42s against Pakistan.


4.57pm: Cummins breakthrough

Wicket! Cummins bowls Stoneman (53), with England’s stubborn partnership finally ended. Just what the home side needed right before Tea.

Nathan Lyon, left, and David Warner celebrate the wicket of England's James Vince. Picture: AP
Nathan Lyon, left, and David Warner celebrate the wicket of England's James Vince. Picture: AP

Wayne Smith 4.51pm: More ‘Paine’ for Australia

A rare shout as Cummins jags one back to strike Vince on the pads but it’s a half-hearted appeal from the Australians and replays clearly show the ball was sliding down the leg side. There may also have been an inside edge. That triggers some mild excitement in the Australian camp and within minutes Cummins has beaten Vince all ends up with a delivery that leaves him slightly as he attempts a back foot cover drive, while Lyon gets into the act as he pushes one past Stoneman when he is just two short of his half-century. Still, for all the clutching of heads, England survive.

Indeed, Stoneman gets his 50 (off 151 balls) with an edged shot along the ground past Smith at second slip, with Cummins again the unlucky bowler.

The Gabba pitch looks to be playing a little faster as the sun comes out. The chances are starting to come but so too are the runs.

Oh, goodness, Vince is given a life on 68 when wicketkeeper Tim Paine drops a straight-forward edge off Lyon. England should have been 2-121 and the tragedy is that it was Paine’s first blemish of his first Test in seven years. But they’re the ones that have to be taken.

4.42pm: Stoneman get his 50

Forget hit-and-giggle tactics, this is some serious Test cricket. While the locals are getting restless, Stoneman joins Vince in passing the half-century mark, with the pair keeping England well in control on day one.

Wayne Smith 4.18pm: Vince and Stoneman build 100-run partnership

England brings up its 100 as Stoneman whips a fullish delivery from Hazlewood out to the wide mid-on boundary for four, with Australia looking powerless to contain them. Needless to say, given that Vince and Stoneman came together when the score was 1-2, the 100 partnership is not far behind, with Stoneman neatly punching Starc through the covers to give Dave Warner, who is playing despite a stiff neck, yet another uncomfortable chase. He’s 44 now and quickly closing on his highest Test score, the 52 he notched at Headingley in June. England 1-105 after 44 overs.

Wayne Smith 3.52pm: England turn the screws

Vince, coming off a Test against Pakistan in August in which he scored 1 and a duck, reaches his highest test score with a three off Cummins to move to 43 and then demonstrates his true class when he goes onto his tiptoes and imperiously cuts Cummins for four. He wasn’t quite some elaborate as be brought up his maiden Test half-century with a well-timed square drive to caress Hazlewood to the fence.

Runs are coming thick and fast now, forcing Smith to turn to his main strike bowler, Starc. But Stoneman despatches his first ball off the back foot out to deep cover to take three, putting Vince again on strike where he sweetly send the fourth ball of Starc’s over out to the fence. England had laboured through the morning session to score 51 runs off 20 overs but in the first 10 overs after the resumption of play, they have put on 41 runs to take their tally to 1-92.

Wayne Smith 3.40pm: England continue where they left off

Play was delayed an hour and a half by the rain delay but England look to have come out with a slightly more aggressive attitude. Vince back cut the last ball of Lyon’s first over of the afternoon for a single to push the score finally into the 60s, but then spanked Cummins’ opening delivery for three. Even Stoneman stirred himself to straight drive Cummins back past him for four but then the young NSW lion twice ripped deliveries past him during an eventful first over of the session.

Vince certainly is growing in confidence, jumping down the wicket to Lyon to hit him for four through extra cover and it becoming evident from Smith’s mannerisms at second slip that he is growing concerned at this partnership, which now has put on 70 runs.

3.32pm: Tea delayed due to rain

The rain delay means Tea has been pushed back to 4pm in Brisbane (5pm AEST), with a minimum number of 82 overs to be played today. Tomorrow’s start time has been brought forward to 9.30am local time, and 9.58am on day three.

Ground staff look on as rain delays play on day one of the first Test. Picture: AAP.
Ground staff look on as rain delays play on day one of the first Test. Picture: AAP.

3.15pm: We’re back underway!

Nathan Lyon takes the ball for the first over after lunch, with The Gabba now bathed in sunshine. It will be interesting to see how both sides react after the extended break, with England in control during the morning session.

3.05pm: Play set to resume

Not much longer to wait, with England set to resume at 1-59.

2.44pm: Well, you can’t say we didn’t warn you

2.38pm: England ‘disappointed the rain’s around’

2.30pm: No end in sight

We might have to start blogging the 90s Test Nine are showing...

2.20pm: Australia’s frustrating wait after mixed morning session

2.16pm: Warner in good spirits despite injury and rain delay

Wayne Smith 2.00pm: Long wait likely

Whoops, spoke too soon. Now the big tarp is being laid on the block and being staked home. The umbrellas are up and we could be in for a long wait.

Wayne Smith 1.47pm: Delays to continue?

Not what was wanted. The Gabba ground staff are putting the covers on the crease as a shower passes over the ground. It’s only the wicket block they’re covering, not the wicket block or surrounds and it doesn’t look like this will be a long delay as there is plenty of blue sky overhead. But rain has been forecast for three of the remaining four days of the match so these interruptions could become the theme of the Test.

1.45pm: Rain sets in at The Gabba

Rain has delayed the return of play after lunch in Brisbane, with the covers coming on during the first break of the day. Conditions were warm and overcast during the morning session, but a slight drizzle threatens to damage the pitch with play likely to resume within the next hour.

Mike Atherton 1.35pm: Lunch reading: Packer would enjoy the irony

The front cover is a cracker: Wayne Daniel, pink shirt unbuttoned to the chest, walking back to his mark malevolently, his gold chain swinging from side to side, sleeves rolled up, ready to do business.

Gideon Haigh’s The Cricket War, for that is the book that Daniel’s picture adorns, has been republished this year, on the 40th anniversary of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, and 24 years after its initial publication.

Read more

Wayne Smith 1.05pm: England on top at lunch

More and more, Lyon is looking the most threatening of the Australian bowlers. He is bowling with confidence these days, which is a reflection of the fact that he is the third leading wicket-taker in the world this year - with 46.

Keeper Paine is certainly appreciating Lyon’s work. While he can’t quite bring himself to say “Nice, Garry” every second ball as Matthew Wade used to do, he does offer some encouragement in an occasional “Gorgeous, Garry!”

Starc, meanwhile, has decided to come around the wicket to Stoneman but without noticeable effect. Finally, he drops them a little short but they are poorly directed and Stoneman is able to handle them with ease.

James Vince and Mark Stoneman. Picture: Getty Images.
James Vince and Mark Stoneman. Picture: Getty Images.

In all, England would probably feel better at the end of the first session. It has been slow progress for them, with only 59 runs coming off 29 overs but the important thing is that they have only lost the wicket of Cook.

Starc remains the only wicket-taker with 1-14 off 10, while Hazlewood (8-3-24-0), Cummins (5-2-13-0) and Lyon (6-2-8-0) have all bowled well - but certainly no better than “well”. The Australians desperately need to bring a bit more urgency to their work when play resumes in 40 minutes.

Wayne Smith 12.50pm: Stubborn England denying desperate Australia

Not long until the lunch break and the Australians are getting desperate for another wicket - otherwise it promises to be a long, hot afternoon for them. Lyon continues to probe, bowling four overs for four runs.

Debutant Cameron Bancroft is doing a solid job for him, fielding at short leg and looking quite polished in the process. Certainly he stays low - a reminder that he is also a keeper and knows how to stay down and steady.

Wayne Smith 12.30pm: Starc re-introduced

Half an hour to lunch and Starc returns to the crease. His opening five overs went for only nine runs and now he’s working up a bit of speed, too, hitting 147kph. He prompts a couple of drives from Stoneman but so far nothing short in the opener’s ribcage and honours are shared with a maiden over.

England have been now six overs in the 40s but it clear they are now playing for the lunch break, desperate to get there with only one wicket down. Given their batting approach, it’s unusual that Smith has not put in a short leg. At least put the thought into the batsman’s mind.

Finally, Stoneman breaks the shackles and flicks Starc out to mid-wicket for three. That not only brings up the 50 for England but also the half-century partnership, with Stoneman contributing 23 and Vince 27.

Wayne Smith 12.29pm: Australia turn to spin

After 17 overs of pace, Smith turns at last to his off-spinner Nathan Lyon and he immediately livens up the action, raising his arm in a half-shout after hitting Stoneman’s pad with his first ball. He’s coming around the wicket to the left-hander and causing him a few problems, spinning the ball away from the bat. Aside from the first ball, however, Stoneman handles him comfortably and indeed steals a single off the last ball of the over to deny Lyon a maiden. England 1-47 after 19 overs.

Wayne Smith 12.11pm: Australia slowly turn up the heat

There has barely been a ball that has beaten the bat so far in this first session but Cummins produced one — the last ball before drinks. Vince stood up straight but Cummins sent one tantalisingly close to the edge straight past his bat to keeper Tim Paine. It was a bit of encouragement for the Australians after 14 overs in the field for just the single wicket of Cook.

And up comes the sunscreen warnings on the scoreboard, reminding the Australians that it’s hot and getting hotter. Well, everyone was commenting on how chilly Brisbane was becoming so they’ve got what they wanted.

Stoneman continues to make Hazlewood toil away for no results. Anything short he is simply swaying out of the way, trusting to the reliable Gabba bounce, Still, it’s another maiden to begin the second hour. England 1-39.

Wayne Smith 12.00pm: Quiet first session after pre-Test war of words

Australian fans look on during Day 1 of the First Test. Picture: AAP.
Australian fans look on during Day 1 of the First Test. Picture: AAP.

It’s all been remarkable sedate so far but Hazlewood attempts to liven thing up by pegging a throw at the stumps after Vince had cracked one straight back at him. No harm done. He missed, though umpire Marais Erasmus quickly chipped Hazlewood over the incident. Not that Vince needed any protection. He gave his answer directly to the bowler, cracking a spanking drive out to the cover fence and then, the very next ball, taking a delivery on the line of his body and flicking it out to mid-wicket fore another four.

It’s all looking fairly comfortable for England at this point with Vince moving to 22 and Stoneman playing the more restrained role on 15.

Wayne Smith 11.41am: England’s shaky start

Not all has gone to Joe Root’s plans after the England captain won the toss. Just 16 balls into the day’s play and Mitchell Starc makes the initial breakthrough, having former England skipper Alastair Cook well caught low down by Peter Handscombe at first slip. It’s always been Cook’s vulnerable area, just outside the off stump, and Starc exploited it beautifully pitching up and taking the edge.

Alastair Cook. Picture: Getty Images.
Alastair Cook. Picture: Getty Images.

That brought the two new chums together as James Vince comes out to join Mark Stoneman. Both players are single digit men in terms of Test caps but they certainly aren’t playing like rookies. After sevens overs of effective batting against Starc and Josh Hazlewood, they force Australian captain Steve Smith to make his first bowling change, as Pat Cummins on at the Stanley Street end. Cummins made his Test debut six years ago but, incredibly, this is his first Test ever on Australian soil and he bowls a respectable dot ball to Vince.

Mitchell Starc, centre, reacts after dismissing England batsman Alastair Cook. Picture: AAP.
Mitchell Starc, centre, reacts after dismissing England batsman Alastair Cook. Picture: AAP.

11.36am: Cummins joins the attack

Vince and Stoneman have steadied the ship after England’s initial wobbles, with Pat Cummins in for his first spell of the Test. He’s tidy, with a maiden in his first Test over on home soil. England 1-17.

11.11am: Cook gone early

Wicket! Alistair Cook out in the third over after a nice piece of work in the slips by Handscomb. Starc strikes early. James Vince joins the action. England 1-2.

Alastair Cook after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc. Picture: Getty Images.
Alastair Cook after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc. Picture: Getty Images.

11.04am: First Test is underway

We’re underway in the opening Test, with Alastair Cook grabbing the first runs of the series with two off Mitchell Starc’s first over.

10.52am: Not long to go now

Peter Lalor 10.44am: Warner, Marsh to play

David Warner and Shaun Marsh have passed fitness tests this morning and will play at the Gabba.

England captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to bat on a surface that is green, moist and should do something early, particularly as the sky is heavy.

Steve Smith said he would have batted first if he won the toss.

“It was a tough one there is a bit of grass, there is a bit moisture in the wicket, hopefully those clouds hang around for a while and we can get the ball moving around.

“It’s been a pretty big build up and now they (the bowlers) are ready to get out there and play. Hopefully we can make good use of the new ball this morning, I think it will be hard work this morning and a little bit slow, if we hit the right lengths and get a few wickets.”

Marsh had a sore back and Warner a stiff neck which caused the side to fly in Glenn Maxwell as cover yesterday.

Australia has not lost a Test at the Gabba since 1988 but drew here in 2010-11 in a losing Ashes series.

Smith and the England captain, Root, are both leading their sides for the first time in an Australian Ashes.

Root agreed that the surface looked slightly soft but expects it to harden up as the day goes on.

“We’ll bat first and try and bat big,” he said.

England opted for Jake Ball over Craig Overton in their XI.

10.30am: England win toss

England captain Joe Root has won the toss and elected to bat. Australia’s much-hyped bowling attack with get first crack on The Gabba wicket.

10.20am: Bancroft’s big moment

New opener Cameron Bancroft received his Baggy Green from Geoff Marsh, as speculation grows he may face the first ball.

Cameron Bancroft congratulated by Glenn Maxwell after he was presented with his Baggy Green Cap. Picture: Getty Images.
Cameron Bancroft congratulated by Glenn Maxwell after he was presented with his Baggy Green Cap. Picture: Getty Images.

Wayne Smith 10.13am: Verbal stoush finally over, time for the cricket

Somehow it all seems more contrived than “phony wars” normally are, the long shouting-match leading up to the 20170-18 Ashes campaign that finally gets underway today at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The Australian and England camps have dutifully played their assigned roles, the home side fitting comfortably into the role of provocateurs, the visitors playing their aggrieved and put-upon victims.

Some of the Australian name-calling may have gone too far; England captain Joe Root clearly believes it has. But in the end, the Australians have been doing the cricketing equivalent of merely dropping pamphlets saying “Give up. You know you don’t stand a chance.”

Today, however, the bomb bays will be loaded with high-explosive ammunition. The shooting war is about to begin.

Dave Warner’s cricked neck won’t prevent him from playing. Indeed, said Australian captain Steve Smith, Warner has vowed to bat if necessary like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the crablike West Indian whose​ batting stance look​s​ like he is ignoring the bowler but who still manages to average 51 in Test cricket.

The sun rises over the Gabba before day one of the First Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes Series. Picture: Getty Images.
The sun rises over the Gabba before day one of the First Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes Series. Picture: Getty Images.

Nonetheless, Glenn Maxwell was flown up from Melbourne yesterday, just in case, though it soon became apparent that the flamboyant all-rounder would be covering not just for Warner but also for Shaun Marsh, whose back was not what it should have been after training.

The English, for their part, will not be ignoring their history at the Gabba. They have not won there since 1986, as Root was reminded in his pre-match press conference. The last time they were in Brisbane, in November, 2013, they managed to hold it together until lunchtime on the second day when all the wheel-nuts suddenly worked their way loose at the same time.

They’d actually done well in the Australian first innings, reducing them to 6-132 before Brad Haddin (94) and Mitchell Johnson (64) halted the decline. But it was when the Australians came to bowl that Johnson truly unleashed, terrorising the tourists with one of the most aggressive displays of fast bowling ever seen in this country. In the space of 52.4 overs, the England players’ ambitions went from retaining the Ashes to preserving their lives.

Johnson is no longer in the team, nor​ are his two willing henchmen, Ryan Harris and Siddle. But their roles have fallen to Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, a pace bowling battery that has been prepared for this series seemingly for years.

The expectation is that Starc will “bomb” the Poms back to the Stone Age​,​ but the likely reality is that he will be more a threat to their toes, with his deadly inswinging yorkers, than he will be to their heads. And while Hazlewood and Cummins have been likened to Harris and Siddle, the fact is that they, too, have their own unique talents. Still, there’s more than one way to skin what the Australians have been portraying as “scaredy-cats”.

That’s why behind the wall of the phony war, real excitement is building, genuine excitement. All the questions are about to be answered.

And seemingly the two sides are as evenly matched as the history of Australia-England contests suggests. This will be the 70th series between the two countries. Australia has claimed the Ashes 36 times to England 33.

9.56am: More good news for Australia

In a further boost for Australia David Warner looks set to shrug off his own injury concerns, pictured in the middle as the countdown to the first ball continues.

9.53am: Shaun Marsh set to play

Batsman Shaun Marsh was spotted in the nets and is set to take his place in the side, with Glenn Maxwell on standby if there’s a late out.

9.39am: It’s not just the players who primed for a big day ...

9.09am: A beautiful day at the Gabba

8.29am: Warne impressed by Gabba pitch

England’s old Ashes nemesis, leg spinner Shane Warne, is delighted with the Gabba pitch ahead of today’s first Test.

Posting a video to his Instagram account, he described the pitch — which has a nice tinge of green on it — as “terrific”.

“Gabba pitch looking terrific and a proper contest between bat and ball,” he wrote.

8am: England ‘won’t win a Test’: Ponting

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes England cannot win a game in the Ashes which begin in Brisbane today because their best players are too old.

Ponting said he knew from his own experience that Jimmy Anderson, 35, Stuart Broad, 31, and Alastair Cook, who is almost 33, were past their prime and not the cricketers they once were.

“I’ve been pretty bullish this series. I honestly can’t see England winning a game with this squad of players they’ve got here,” he told The Australian yesterday.

“The reason I say this is because they’re going to rely on Cook, Anderson and Broad and, as good as those guys have been, they’re not going to improve as cricketers.

“I’ve been there myself. When you get to a certain age and you’ve played a lot of cricket, you try and maintain and hang on but you’re never going to get better.

“You even look at Cook’s last few years and his overall record in Australia, it’s not that great. And they’ve got (James) Vince and (Dawid) Malan and Mark Stoneman and these guys playing their first Ashes series, I think they’re going to find it pretty tough.”

Read the full story here.

Ricky Ponting is confident Australia can sweep the Ashes against England. Photo: Mathew Farrell
Ricky Ponting is confident Australia can sweep the Ashes against England. Photo: Mathew Farrell

7.40am: Bolt on Aussies’ side

He won multiple gold medals on the track at the London Olympic Games, but don’t for a moment think Usain Bolt will be cheering on the Old Enemy in the first Test at the Gabba today.

Bolt is one of a number of famous names recruited by Cricket Australia for its #BeatEngland social media campaign. Take a look at the video below.

7.35am: The Lyon roars on Ashes Eve

The Australian’s Wayne Smith writes this morning that there was a fair bit of mystification in the England camp this week, not so much that they were being baited before the Ashes series but rather by the unlikely author of those hurtful comments.

“Had it been David Warner saying them, or perhaps one of the recently retired Australian greats — a Brad Haddin, for example, or even a Glenn McGrath — there might have been no reaction from the Poms beyond an exaggerated and exasperated rolling of eyes,” Smith writes.

“But the author was none other than Nathan Lyon, the Australian offspinner who, until now at least, has always left the sledging to the heavy hitters. Indeed, so entirely out of character was it when Lyon questioned the courage of Matt Prior, James Anderson and Stuart Broad during the last Ashes campaign on these shores, that former England captain Nasser Hussain admitted to be entirely perplexed by them.”

Read the full story here.

Australian off spinner Nathan Lyon is a key man for the hosts in the Ashes. Photo: AAP
Australian off spinner Nathan Lyon is a key man for the hosts in the Ashes. Photo: AAP

7.20am: Full guide to today’s play

The first Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at 11am at the Gabba today.

You can watch live coverage on Channel 9, but if you can’t get to a TV screen, then keep up to date with all the scores right here at The Australian.

TEAMS
Australia: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c) Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
England: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (c), Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

BETTING
First Test: Australia $1.70, Draw $4.75, England $3.75
Series: Australia $1.40, Draw $9, England $4

7.10am: More injury woes for Australia

Australia has been rocked by another injury on the eve of today’s first Test, with Shaun Marsh under an injury cloud as well as David Warner.

Glenn Maxwell has been flown in to cover in the eventuality that either is not available but it’s expected both Marsh and Warner will be fit to play.

Marsh is understood to have hurt his back and looked sore at training yesterday.

The No. 6 batsman was dropped from the side and the contract list after breaking down with a similar injury in the fourth Test in India. He broke down with a back injury in the third Test match of his debut series in Sri Lanka.

Warner has had to adapt his stance since injuring his neck at training on Tuesday. He could not bat that day but took some throw downs on Wednesday and looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Australian batsman Shaun Marsh leaves the nets yesterday. Photo: Getty Images
Australian batsman Shaun Marsh leaves the nets yesterday. Photo: Getty Images

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