Six Australia Wickets Fall as England Fight Back in 4th Ashes Test

Australia lead the overall table with 140 points after thumping England by 110 on a dramatic first day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A total of 26 wickets fell in four sessions.

England lost each of the first three tests to allow Australia to retain the Ashes in just 11 days of field action.

Josh Tongue led England’s bowling attack with a career-best 5-45 before Michael Neser took 4-45 for Australia on Friday.

England greats Michael Vaughan and Stuart Broad and former Australia stars Brett Lee and Mark Waugh said the pitch offered “too much” lateral action for fast bowlers. Vaughan said the first day’s conversation was “shocking”.

Australia, who trailed at 4-0 on Saturday after sending off tailor Scott Boland to partner regular opener Travis Head late on Friday, lost two wickets in the first hour of play.

Boland (6) was caught behind off the bowling of Gus Atkinson at 22-1 and Ben Stokes took the lead in his first over when Jake Weatherald (5) was bowled for a total of 40 without a hit.

Atkinson left the field with what appeared to be a leg injury but England’s rapid attack continued to put pressure on Australia.

Stokes took a painful blow to the right hand of Marnus Labuschagne in his second over and Head fell for 26 at the next over off the bowling of first-innings hero Tongue.

Labuschagne (8), playing from the crease, was caught in the slip of Tongue (2-29) at 61-3. Australia lost wickets in three consecutive overs as Brydon Carse (2-21) made a hole in Head’s (46) defense for 82-4.

Usman Khawaja headed for the next duck, caught at fine leg off the bowling of Tongue and Alex Carey (4) was caught at second slip as Carse took his second wicket of the innings.

With Steve Smith on 16 and unbeaten Cameron Green on 6, Australia will be aiming for a target of at least 200 on a pitch that offers a significant amount of lateral action.