The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
England forced to toil in bid to make history
ashes: Australia dig in on first day of final test at the Oval
History will have to be hard-earned if England are to win four home Ashes Tests for the first time after Australia dug in effectively on day one at The Oval.
Australia’s new guard of captain and vice-captain in waiting, Steve Smith (78no) and David Warner (85), were most successful as the tourists sought to put behind them the miserable performance with which they lost the urn at Trent Bridge.
Warner and his opening partner Chris Rogers put on a century stand which underpinned a stumps total of 287 for three in this fifth Investec Test.
Smith then took over in another 100 partnership, unbroken with Adam Voges, as Australia negotiated awkward conditions under heavy cloud cover throughout and on a pitch with pace and occasional sideways movement.
There was to be no gratifying contribution, however, for Australia captain Michael Clarke, who will retire after this match.
He could muster only 15 runs before a faint edge behind off Ben Stokes, confirmed by a ‘Snicko’ flicker on DRS, left him to ponder the prospect of one more innings with which to achieve a fitting farewell.
Warner had a century in his sights until he pushed forward and edged Moeen Ali to slip in mid-afternoon, bringing Clarke to the crease.
After only 19 runs in the first hour, Warner in particular cashed in his initial caution with a 76-ball 50 containing six fours as Cook ran through all his bowling options in search of a breakthrough.
Stuart Broad recorded the astonishing figures of eight for 15 on his home ground two weeks ago as England took an unassailable 3-1 lead.
But he had to settle for the less eye-catching analysis of 15-3-43-0 yesterday.
Mark Wood threatened the stumps more often from the Vauxhall End but to no avail, as anticipated swing failed to materialise.
Although it took until the 15th over for Warner to pull the first boundary off Stokes, Australia were soon progressing.
It was not until Rogers edged some extra bounce from Wood to a juggling Cook at slip after lunch that England were up and running.
The impression already was that Australia were perhaps compiling a handy total, and Smith soon overcame a sketchy start to play with increasing confidence.
On four, he inside-edged Stokes for four past his stumps and was not always convincing in the early stages of his innings.
But Australia’s future captain gradually attuned himself and completed his half-century when he drove his 84th delivery, from Stokes, past cover for his sixth boundary.
He was far from done either, extending the advantage either side of a rain break and before a slightly early finish because of bad light.
He also kept himself on course for his second 100 of a summer which has otherwise been conspicuously fallow for Australian batsmen.