Skip to content
en-gb GO TO bet365 Sports
Cricket
  1. Cricket
  2. The Ashes

The Ashes: England edge rain-affected first day

Australian opener David Warner says they were always going to bat first after winning the toss as they are expecting the SCG pitch to deteriorate and want to bowl last.

Australia are priced at 4/1 to win the series 5-0 but England had one of their better days of the Ashes so far on a rain-interrupted first day of the fourth Test in Sydney.

England make inroads

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and after taking a look at the green SCG pitch elected to bat first, but play was delayed by 30 minutes due to rain.

The morning session was halted on two more occasions while there was also a two-hour rain delay either side of tea with just 46.5 overs bowled throughout the day.

Related Ashes news

Cummins braced for tougher times

Swepson to wait for chance

Warner sets sights on 2023 Ashes

Langer confirms Harris backing

When there was play England can be happy with the way they bowled with Stuart Broad continuing to have the sign over Warner who was caught in the slips by Zak Crawley for 30 runs.

Marcus Harris was the next to go, caught by Joe Root off the bowling of James Anderson for 38. England then took the prized wicket of Marnus Labuschagne for just 28 after he nicked a Mark Wood delivery behind.

At stumps Steve Smith remained unbeaten on six, while Usman Khawaja was four not out.

Speaking after the day's play had ended Warner explained their decision to bat first and is expecting the pitch to provide some fireworks on the last couple of days.

Warner said: "That's Sydney weather for you. It rains pretty much every Test we play here. We were surprised with how much play we got. We were always going to bat. There are quite a lot of cracks underneath the surface. We wanted to be the ones bowling last."

England show fight

Meanwhile England fast bowler Mark Wood says they were determined to come out fighting and can be pleased with their efforts.

"It was a tough day, stop-start. To put the two wickets on at the end changes the perception. If we can start well tomorrow we're right in the game," he said.

"The build-up has been carnage. No coaches, different staff. It's focussed us, brought us together and we're trying to show as much fight as we can."

Discover more from the world's favourite online betting brand

More cricket betting news

Latest betting and odds

Latest cricket results

Looking forward to the week aheadr

Sign up - bet365 Open Account Offer

bet365 uses cookies

We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy

New to bet365? Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets

Join Now

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.