England battle to 196 4 Starc takes third wicket
Cricket
England number four Root was 68 not out in a watchful, 129-ball knock, with captain Ben Stokes on 14 and the match was delicately poised before the testing night session
(Reuters) – Joe Root stood firm in the Brisbane twilight to push England to 196 for four at the dinner break on day one of the second Ashes Test on Thursday after Australia paceman Mitchell Starc captured his third wicket.
England number four Root was 68 not out in a watchful, 129-ball knock, with captain Ben Stokes on 14 and the match was delicately poised before the testing night session.
England resumed on 98 for two after tea, with opener Zak Crawley on the offensive and Root well-set.
Recalled paceman Michael Neser had Crawley caught behind for 76, breaking a 117-run partnership.
Starc, who dismissed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks in four balls early in the first session, tempted Brook with a wide delivery which he drove poorly, sending an edge into the slips to be caught for 31 off 33 balls.
Australia captain Steve Smith took the catch in front of his face with relief after losing the flight of the ball.
Starc's 415th wicket moved him past Wasim Akram as the most prolific left-arm fast bowler in Tests.
Australia lead the five-Test series 1-0 after the eight-wicket win in Perth and have not lost to England at the Gabba since 1986.
The hosts sprung a surprise by dropping veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the first home Test since 2012 and picking Neser in a four-pronged seam attack.
With Usman Khawaja out injured, stand-in skipper Smith confirmed Travis Head will open for the hosts after his match-winning 123 in Perth.
Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will take Head's usual middle order spot in his first home Test.
England shelved their four-pronged seam attack, with spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks picked in place of the injured Mark Wood.
AUSTRALIA DROP LYON
Earlier, Australia sprung a surprise by dropping veteran spinner Nathan Lyon and picking Michael Neser in a four-prong seam attack for the Test.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot and sunny afternoon at the Gabba.
With Usman Khawaja out injured, Australia captain Steve Smith confirmed Travis Head will open for the hosts after his match-winning 123 in the eight-wicket win over England in Perth.
Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will replace Head in the middle order.
Smith said Lyon made way for Neser because of the day-night Test's pink ball and local conditions.
"With no daylight savings here, you're playing the night a lot. We feel that's going to be the best to take 20 wickets in this particular fixture," he said.
Smith said he would also have chosen to bat if he won the toss.
Australia lead the five-Test series 1-0 and have not lost to England at the Gabba since 1986.
England shelved their four-prong seam attack, with spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks picked in place of Mark Wood.
Stokes said it was an easy decision to bat first.
"Obviously with the different conditions you face, with the daylight and then obviously the lights come on later, you give yourself the best chance to know that you're going to bat in the easier conditions," he said.
There was media speculation Pat Cummins might return from a back injury to captain Australia after missing Perth, and Smith said he was "close" to selection.
"We thought it might be a bit risky for this game. But he's certainly tracking well for the next one," said Smith.
Teams:
Australia - Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (captain), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett
England - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
