Australia at 154-8 against England in 1st Ashes test

By Associated Press 02 August 2019, 12:00AM

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — England reduced Australia to 154-8 at tea on the opening day of the Ashes series at Edgbaston on Thursday.

After reaching 83-3 in overcast conditions at lunch in the first test, Australia's first innings collapsed in the afternoon session with only former captain Steve Smith and Travis Head (35) offering any resistance.

Smith is 66 not out and Peter Siddle 7 not out.

England seamers Stuart Broad (4-38) and Chris Woakes (3-35) gave dominating performances which will have encouraged Australia's bowlers.

Woakes trapped Head leg before wicket to end his 64-run fourth-wicket partnership with Smith. Australia then fell to 105-5 in a match dominated by lbw decisions and reviews when England successfully challenged a not out decision against Matthew Wade (1) off Woakes.

Tim Paine (5) thought the wicket looked "really good" when choosing to bat first but the Australia captain was comfortably caught by Rory Burns at deep square leg off Broad, who then dismissed James Pattinson leg before to leave Australia in trouble at 112-7.

A powerful inswinger from Ben Stokes claimed Pat Cummins (5) before Smith brought up his 25th test 50 in 119 balls to earn loud boos from England fans who haven't forgiven him for his role in a ball-tampering scandal last year against South Africa.

Jimmy Anderson, England's record test wicket-taker, bowled four tight overs — conceding only one run — before leaving the field in the morning and going for a scan on his right calf.

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More AP cricket: www.apnews.com/Cricket and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Associated Press 02 August 2019, 12:00AM

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