England's Bowlers Dominate Australia in First Session of Boxing Day Test
England Bowlers Rattle Australia in Opening Session
In a stunning display, Gus Atkinson delivered a remarkable spell, taking one wicket and bowling four maidens out of nine, which put immense pressure on the Australian side. By the end of the first session of the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia found themselves struggling at 72/4, with Usman Khawaja (21*) and Alex Carey (9*) remaining not out.
England won the toss and chose to bowl first, sending Aussie openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to the crease. The pair began their innings cautiously against the bowling of Atkinson and Brydon Carse. However, in the sixth over, Australia managed to relieve some pressure as Head struck two consecutive boundaries off Carse, including a stylish cover drive, while Weatherald capped the over with another cover drive, accumulating 15 runs.
Atkinson and Tongue Dismantle Top Order
Atkinson provided England with their first breakthrough, dismissing Head, who chopped a delivery that angled across him onto his stumps. Head departed after scoring 12 runs off 22 balls, leaving Australia at 27/1 in 5.1 overs.
Josh Tongue then entered the fray, causing further trouble for the Australians. He had Weatherald caught behind by keeper Jamie Smith for just 10 runs off 23 balls, reducing Australia to 31/2 in nine overs.
In a fierce display during the Boxing Day Test, England, eager to reclaim the Ashes, continued their assault as Tongue quickly took down Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Steve Smith (5), leaving Australia in a precarious position at 51/4 in 19.2 overs, with their top-order batsmen already back in the pavilion within an hour of the match's start.
The left-handed duo of Alex Carey and Usman Khawaja managed to stabilize the innings for Australia for the remainder of the session.
Playing XIs
Australia (Playing XI): Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Scott Boland.
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue.