Australia headed to the Bellerive Oval for the fifth and final Test Match of the prestigious Ashes series. Having won the urn with a 3-0 lead in the series, Australia are eyeing to conclude the series with a win as England avoided a whitewash when the last match ended in a draw. Similar to Day 1 of the previous test match, the opening day at Bellerive Oval was spoiled with rain as the hosts reached 241/6 at the Stumps.
Australia strived against the England bowlers
England won the toss and put Australia to bat first. Travis Head continued with his form to hit a century and put the hosts in the driver’s seat in Hobart. Head scored his fourth Test ton but perished on the next delivery. Cameron Green also chipped in with 74 runs, which steered the hosts to 241 runs but lost as many as six wickets on the opening day before rain halted the play and eventually led to stumps on the opening day at the Bellerive Oval.
The home side lost the wicket of opener David Warner early to Ollie Robinson followed by Usman Khawaja to Stuart Broad. Robinson struck again as he dismissed Steve Smith to put Australia on the backfoot. Marnus Labuschagne also fell before Lunch to Broad for 44 runs.
England bowlers Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson picked two wickets each while Mark Wood and Chris Wood added one each to their name. Having already lost the Ashes, England managed to gain some lost pride after their fighting draw in Sydney and Joe Root and Co will hope to produce another gutsy display in the final Test against the Aussies at Hobart.
Australia secured comprehensive victories in the first three encounters of the five-match series and will look to end their campaign on a perfect note. Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler will not feature in the contest after sustaining a finger injury.
