TOP SPIN AT THE TEST

DAVID WARNER and Steve Smith both made a duck in the same Test innings for the first time. Warner’s 22-ball duck was the longest of the 10 he has made in Test cricket and Smith’s was his first against England since November 2013, when Chris Tremlett removed him in the second innings at the Gabba.

ENGLAND made five changes to the side which drew in Sydney, the ninth time in 17 matches they have made at least four changes. In 235 Tests between December 2001 and January 2020, they made as many changes only 10 times. FOUR of Australia’s five centuries in this Ashes have come from Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, who began the series competing for their team’s last remaining batting spot.

BY stumps on the first day, Mark Wood had figures of 11.3-0-79-1. His economy-rate of 6.86 was his worst in any Test innings in which he has bowled at least six balls.