The Ashes | 5th Test - England’s hopes get snatched away as Australia dominate Day 1

England failed to capitalise on their excellent start in the morning session of the final Test match in Hobart on Friday, 14 January. Having picked up three wickets in the first hour of lay, England let the opportunity slip by bowling wayward lines after the first spell and provided space for an Australian counter-attack.

The duo of Marnus Labuschange and Travis Head took up the opening gleefully and dominated the English bowlers with exuberant drives through the off side. At a point, Labuschange felt so comfortable in his crease that he stepped down against English pacers and started chipping them through the leg side.

Just when it seemed that Labuschange was in for a big one in the pink ball Test, his quirkiness got the better of him and he got bowled in a bizarre manner to end his entertaining innings at 44 off 53 balls.

However, his star of the day partner wasn’t in the mood to let England capitalise and along with Cameron Green kept punishing everything that was offered to him.

Travis Head completed his second century of the series, another one in a dominating fashion, but got out in the very next ball after completing the three-figure mark.

The excitement of the competition died from there on as Australia went onto post a fairly big score at the end of day one before the rain took over and forced play to stop rather prematurely.

For England, they were dealt a double blow as all-rounder Ben Stokes suffered a side strain and was declared unfit to bowl for the rest of the day.

Australia will be starting at 241/6 on Day 2 in a lively pitch at Hobart and will possibly look to pile on some quick runs before dinner to make the most of the pink ball under lights.