England reduced Australia to 85-4 as their fast bowlers gave the tourists a fine start in the fifth and final Ashes Test at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Friday.
Having already lost the series after heavy defeats in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, England’s all-seam attack reduced Australia to 12-3 within 10 overs.
Marnus Labuschagne, who took advantage of early relief to score 44, and Travis Head arrested Australia’s slide with a counter-attack of 71 off 74 balls.
Head was batting on 31 at the break while Cameron Green was on two at the other end.
Earlier, England captain Joe Root won a crucial toss and decided to field under a cloudy sky, hoping that his bowlers would take advantage of the conditions.
The all-seam attack, minus veteran James Anderson, didn’t let him down.
Usman Khawaja had forced his retention after his twin century in the middle order in Sydney but walked out to open the innings with David Warner as Head battled COVID-19 to regain his number five spot. recovered for
Ollie Robinson shed first blood in the sixth over when Jack Crawley caught it at second slip to send Warner back after a 22-ball duck.
Crowley dropped Labuschagne to open his account in the next over from Robinson, who could have been a routine catch for Root at first slip.
The England captain was involved in the next dismissal when Khawaja dismissed Stuart Broad for a six.
Crowley made no mistake when Robinson took a lead from Steve Smith, who was dismissed for a duck.
Labuschagne decided to counter-attack to ease the pressure, despite failing from time to time in the middle of the ball and timing his shots.
He hit Chris Woakes for a six before being dismissed for 43 around the dinner break.
The right-hander was bowled around his leg by Broad after shuffling and slipping outside off-stump.
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