Australia strikes back after Stoneman-Vince stand

James Vince got to the doorstep of a maiden Test century before a moment of brilliance from Nathan Lyon on the field sent him back as England ended the rain-hit first day of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on 196 for 4 on Thursday (November 23).

Alastair Cook and Joe Root, England’s premier batsmen, both fell cheaply before the visiting side went to close leaving the game finely balanced after 80.3 overs of action.

Vince top-scored with 83, well above his previous best of 42, as England scored slowly on an attritional day of cricket, but Australia dragged the game back when it dismissed him along with Root slightly later.

Vince, in only his eighth Test, scampered for a quick single off Josh Hazlewood but a brilliant pick up and direct hit from Lyon, fielding in the off-side cordon, caught him well out. That ended the vigil for Vince, who had been dropped by Tim Paine behind the stumps off Lyon earlier, after 170 balls, during which he hit 12 boundaries.

Just 18 runs later, Root fell lbw to Pat Cummins for 15 off 50 balls after a review, in another huge moment for the Australians. At stumps, Dawid Malan was batting on 28 along with Moeen Ali, whose 13 included the day's only six.

Vince and Mark Stoneman, who opened with Cook, had few problems mastering Australia's fast-bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins during a 125-run second-wicket stand before Stoneman was bowled between bat and pad by Cummins for 53 just before tea. His 159-ball innings included three hits to the fence.

It was a spirited recovery between the two after the early loss of Cook (two) in the third over when the former captain edged Starc and Peter Handscomb took a smart tumbling catch at first slip.

Stoneman continued his good run-scoring form following his century and three half-centuries in four innings in the tour games.