England’s pace bowlers disappoint their skipper

Debutant Craig Overton made Australia captain Steve Smith his first test victim, but England could not drive home their advantage in the final session and the hosts finished the first day of day-night Ashes cricket on 209/four yesterday.

Peter Handscomb, 36 not out, and Shaun Marsh, unbeaten on 20, batted out the rest of a tense session and will resume on day two as Australia look to build on a thumping 10wicket victory in the opener at the Gabba.

England captain Joe Root gambled on bowling after winning the toss on an overcast afternoon but his bowlers initially failed to back his decision with the sort of sustained aggression that might have made greater inroads into the home batting.

Australia survived the rain-disrupted first session with all 10 wickets intact and openers Cameron Bancroft, run out for 10, and David Warner, caught behind for 47, departed in an extended second.

England struck straight after the second break to remove Usman Khawaja for 53, leaving Smith, whose unbeaten 141 was the difference between the sides in Brisbane, to again carry the burden.

With the Adelaide Oval bathed in the bright artificial light, though, Overton found the perfect length with an off-cutter and Smith played on for 40 — the bails flashing red as they flew into the night air.

England did well to restrict Australia’s scoring but will be disappointed not to have taken more wickets after sending the hosts into bat.

The crowd of 55 317 was a record for cricket at the ground, bettering the 50 962 that packed into the ground for the second day of the 1933 “Bodyline” test.

Though relations between the sides have not approached the lows of that series, there were words in the middle and umpire Aleem Dar at one stage felt the need to step between Smith and England’s James Anderson.

Anderson’s verbal aggression was reflected in his bowling in the final session when he had Khawaja caught by James Vince at gully but he and Stuart Broad will be disappointed with their contribution. — Reuters