England gives up on success
ENGLAND concedes Australia will take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes, having cruised to 0-114 at stumps on day four of the series opener after being set a target of 170 in Brisbane.
David Warner and Cameron Bancroft’s productive and positive start to the modest run-chase, coming a day after Steve Smith turned the match on its head with a gamechanging knock of 141 not out, means all the hard work is done for the hosts.
Warner is 60 not out, while Bancroft is on 51. It has been almost four years since Australia enjoyed an opening stand of over 100 runs in the fourth innings of a Test.
“It was a great day,” Mitchell Starc said.
“There’s still a long way to go in the series but ... the first Test is huge.
“If we can knock off these 56 runs it puts us in a very strong position heading to Adelaide. England have to chase us from now on.”
Moeen Ali, whose wounded spinning finger is among England’s many concerns ahead of the day-night Test in Adelaide, admitted defeat.
“The first three days we were right in the game then today didn’t quite go to plan. That’s cost us this Test match,” Moeen said.
“Today we let ourselves down, with the bat especially.
“We obviously won’t win the game but getting wickets can sort of put a dent in Australia for the next game.”