Ashes first Test result.

With Australia needing 174 runs to win and England needing to take seven wickets, there was the potential for a classic battle to unfold once the rain finally relented and play got under at 2.15pm, BST.

However, that is not how things transpired during the opening two hours 15 minutes, Australia initially erring on the side of caution and England struggling to create opportunities despite generally bowling with accuracy.

Nightwatchman Scott Boland hung around before he edged through to Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Stuart Broad, bringing Travis Head to the crease and with it a change of intensity.

During the first three balls of a Moeen Ali over, Head made 10 runs, yet two balls later he would fall to the spin bowler as he edged through to Joe Root at slip.

Australia looked vulnerable at 143-5, but Cameron Green combined with Usman Khawaja to put on 41 runs before tea, the latter reaching a patient 57 from 162 balls to frustrate England.

The tourists returned for the final session of the match needing another 98 runs...

Written by
Darren Plant