Australia close day one of fourth Ashes Test on 126-3 as James Anderson and Mark Wood strike in final session; Stuart Broad earlier dismissed David Warner for the 13th time in Test cricket; Australia retained the urn with innings victory in Boxing Day Test at MCG
Wednesday 5 January 2022 13:42, UK
England struck twice in the final session on a rain-hit day one of the fourth Ashes Test to curb Australia's progress in Sydney.
James Anderson and Mark Wood dismissed Marcus Harris (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (28) respectively in successive overs as Australia slipped from 111-1 to 117-3 before closing on 126-3 on a day on which just 46.5 overs were bowled due to inclement weather.
Anderson and Wood bagged their wickets after the ball was changed midway through the 30th over, before Usman Khawaja (4no off 22) and Steve Smith (6no off 23) steered Australia through to stumps, which came about 35 minutes early after another rain shower.
Stuart Broad, recalled to the England side in place of the injured Ollie Robinson, dismissed David Warner (30) for the 13th time in Tests when he had the opener caught behind from around the wicket after lunch.
England are 3-0 down in the five-match series and now looking to avoid a 5-0 series sweep, with Australia having retained the Ashes with an innings-and-14-run win in Melbourne last time out.
Joe Root's side were unable to prise a wicket in the opening session, which was limited to 12.3 overs due to initial rain, as Australia reached 30-0 after electing to bat.
Broad, though, removed Warner for the eighth time in his last seven Tests against Australia after the break - Zak Crawley gobbling up the chance at second slip as Broad snapped an opening partnership of 51 between Warner and Harris.
Broad had been described as a "caged tiger" by England assistant coach Graham Thorpe ahead of the game in Sydney having made only one appearance in the series so far.
The 35-year-old could not build on his breakthrough, with play halted for balls later due to rain and not resuming until 5.20am UK time - after which Harris and Labuschagne took the hosts from 56-1 to 111-1 in pretty serene fashion as their second-wicket stand extended to 60.
England rallied after drinks, striking twice in as many overs, with Anderson and Wood accounting for Harris and Labuschagne respectively.
Harris clipped a ball from Anderson that angled across him through to Root at second slip, while Labuschagne snicked Wood's back-of-a-length delivery to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Khawaja came out at No 5 for Australia, the 35-year-old making his first Test appearance since 2019 as a replacement for the Covid-hit Travis Head.
Covid has also hit the England camp, with head coach Chris Silverwood among a number of backroom staff in isolation, leaving Thorpe to lead England at the SCG.
Thorpe will be pretty content with the first day's work in Sydney as his side look to rebound from heavy defeats in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne - the last of which saw Australia retain the urn.
Stuart Broad dismissed David Warner for the 13th time in Test cricket - only one Australian batsman has been dismissed by a particular England bowler on more occasions in Test cricket, Arthur Morris fell to Alec Bedser on 18 occasions.
James Anderson becomes the first player to take at least one Test wicket in 20 consecutive years (2003 to 2022). Muttiah Muralitharan did it in 19 consecutive years (1992 to 2010).
Anderson is now alone in second place in terms of the most Test caps. The England bowler is playing his 169th match, one ahead of both Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh but still 31 shy of Sachin Tendulkar's record 200.
Australia opener David Warner: "I really enjoy giving you guys a good story, which is fantastic and it builds up the game. Me and Broady love it when we're out there. It's good fun, good funny banter. (On Wednesday) I tried to drive the ball too straight, that was my disappointment, but it's awesome to see Broady back out there."
England fast bowler Mark Wood: "You want to try and test yourself against the best players. I've been slightly frustrated myself because I'm bowling well and haven't got the amount of wickets I'd like. But if you get big wickets like [Labuschagne and Smith], certainly it makes you very happy."
Wood, speaking to BT Sport: "It was a tough day, getting those wickets at the end certainly helped and it was a good day overall. At one stage, we weren't getting much lateral movement. I thought with the pitch being green it would do a bit more but, like we've found in Australia, the ball will be doing nothing and then one will go, that's when you can get your wickets."
The Sydney Test continues from 11pm UK time, with the fifth and final Test - a day-nighter in Hobart - taking place between January 14-18.
