DAY 1 AT A GLANCE

1st SESSION ENG 88-3

88 Runs, three wickets, 23 overs After the now customary national anthems, and a frustrating but short rain relay, Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth walk out to bat. The inexperienced Lyth doesn’t last long as Josh Hazlewod snares the first wicket of the series with Lyth caught in the gully. Cook and Gary Ballance threaten a recovery before Cook nicks one and Ian Bell falls cheaply to leave England in trouble at 43 for three. Not for the first time, Joe Root comes to the crease to rescue England but is lucky to be dropped by Brad Haddin. Ballance and Root take England to 88 for three at lunch with all to play for.

VERDICT: Australia win

2nd SESSION ENG 190-3

102 runs, no wickets, 29 overs Australia come out after the break determined to ram home their advantage but Root and Ballance have other ideas. With contrasting styles, the pair

complement each other superbly with Root more fluent but Ballance showing determination to record his 50 after surviving a torrid spell from Mitchell Johnson. Root, precise on the front foot and powerful off the back, finishes the session seven runs short of his seventh Test hundred, while Ballance hangs on as the slow pitch sees him overcome the technical deficiencies that have troubled him in recent times.

VERDICT: England win

3rd SESSION ENG 343-7

153 runs, four wickets, 35 overs Ballance departs shortly after the resumption when Hazlewood traps him plumb in front for 61. Ben Stokes arrives and sets about his task with gusto, hooking Johnson for six and slapping a square cut for four while Root reaches his seventh Test hundred with a sublime cover drive. The pair bring up the 50 partnership from just 52 balls but Root’s magnificent contribution finally comes to a close before Mitchell Starc fires a magnificent delivery to dismiss Stokes. Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler keep on the attack before Buttler falls tamely to Hazlewood late on.

VERDICT: Honours even