First day first Blood, Australia

England skittled out for 147 on day one as Cummins makes dream start as Aussie captain

Mohammed Rumman Khan | NT

Pat Cummins enjoyed a dream start to life as Australia captain as he led from the front with a first Ashes five-for to bowl England out for 147 on day one of the opening Test at the Gabba on Wednesday.

England captain Joe Root won the toss, opted to bat, and lost opener Rory Burns on the very first delivery of the Ashes series, a late swinging yorker from Australia paceman Mitchell Starc. The England innings finished with ominous thunder and lightning starting to the west and south of the Gabba.

Jos Buttler mounted an England counter-attack of sorts with 39, sharing a stand of 52 with Ollie Pope, who made 35.

Haseeb Hameed, with a watchful 25, and Chris Woakes, who made 21, were the only other batters to reach double figures.

England were all out by tea, only for a huge storm to wipe out the evening session and prevent the start of Australia’s reply, meaning day two will start a little early.

Root’s decision to bat at a venue where England have not won in 35 years backfired almost as soon as it had been made.

Even the weather gods appeared against England. Rain in Brisbane washed out the final session, denying their pace attack an opportunity to operate on a green-tinged wicket in overcast conditions. The onus is now on the bowlers to haul England back into the contest, in the absence of paceman Stuart Broad, whose omission surprised many.

It’s all gone to plan so far, says Aus skipper

Cummins was the pick of bowlers for Australia, taking 5/38 in 13.1 overs, becoming the first captain to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test since Bob Willis did so in 1982/83. “Pretty crazy... it’s all gone to plan so far. Really proud of all the guys,” said Cummins

‘Root made wrong call by batting first’

“Obviously 147 all-out tells that it was the wrong decision with the way it (the ball) seamed around and bounced, and sometimes you can confuse it all. I know, I did it.”

Hussain, however, said that Australia has a “fragile” batting line-up and that England could bank on their bowlers to get back into the contest.

Waugh ‘shocked’ as Eng leave out Broad, Anderson

Former Australia cricketer Mark Waugh was “shocked” that England had left out star pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the first Ashes Test. “Shocked England batted first and left out both Anderson and Broad,” Waugh replied to former England skipper Michael Vaughan on Twitter.

(With inputs from agencies)