On tour first ton

and taking England to 305-8 before he was well caught by Marnus Labuschagne.

His diving catch was the second in two balls following a stunning grab from Steve Smith at second slip to dismiss Chris Woakes but they were outliers in an otherwise shoddy display from Paine’s men.

Australia had talked a good game in the build up with captain Paine soberly insisting they came here not to retain the Ashes but to win them.

But after last Sunday celebrating the retention of the urn with beery chants of how easily they beat England, with Smith donning glasses in the post-match huddle to poke fun at spinner Jack Leach, they have not turned up.

Joe Root was dropped three times in the first innings. Denly was dropped on nought on Friday night and Stokes was dropped on seven by Smith. Perhaps he should have kept the glasses on?

In addition, Paine’s desperate use of the DRS continued with the blunder against Denly on 54 and another off Lyon when Buttler was ‘out’ lbw on 19.

If Paine’s use of DRS put him in the same boat as David Gower (without a f ****** clue) the overall performance has smacked of a side who preferred an extra round of beers and a couple of days off instead of grabbing the chance to join the great sides as Ashes winners on foreign soil.

England were good but they were made to look better by a slack approach and, while they will be rightfully wary of Smith, should hammer home the advantage. The highest total chased here at The Oval to win a match in the fourth innings is the 263 England knocked off against Australia in 1902. Even with Smith firing, Joe Root’s men appear out of sight and on target to level the series.