England tore through the Australian batting line-up to bowl the hosts out for just 152 on day one of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, taking complete control on a green, bowler-friendly track, reports AFP.
Skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and sent Australia in under overcast skies. Openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald fell for 12 and 10, while Marnus Labuschagne managed only six, as Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue exploited early movement.
Steve Smith tried to stabilize the innings but was bowled for nine by Tongue, who finished with figures of 5-45. Usman Khawaja (29), Alex Carey (20), Cameron Green (17), and Michael Neser (35) offered resistance, but wickets fell regularly.
Australia had already secured the Ashes with victories in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. England, missing injured paceman Jofra Archer, recalled Atkinson to lead the attack.
Green and Neser hit a few boundaries to counter-attack, but Starc, Boland, and Tongue cleaned up the tail. By the close of day one, England had established full control, leaving Australia under pressure in front of a packed MCG crowd.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
