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passion tongue led the charge as England Had a great start in the Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne.
The Vase is already gone after three consecutive defeats, but the beleaguered tourists suggested they still have some fight left as they reduced the hosts to 72 for four in front of 90,000 fans at the MCG.
remembered Gus Atkinson He caused first blood by dismissing the in-form Travis Head in the seventh over, before Tong took control of the match with a brilliant three-wicket haul.
Shane Warne Taking over from an underperforming Brydon Carse at the stand end, Tanguay bowled an eight-over spell with Jake Weatherald taking three for 24. marnus labuschagne and captain steve smith Everyone is becoming a victim.
At lunch, Australia had taken the lead on scoring rate on foot, with England able to mirror their best season since the opening day of the series in Perth.
Ben Stokes won the toss and had first use of the green pitch, which greatly helped the fast bowlers, but Carse’s ongoing struggles for accuracy hampered England’s plans with the new ball. The traveling support may have been fearing the worst when their third over was bowled out for 15 runs, but Atkinson was about to be rewarded for his good start.
Head, who by Australia’s admission had participated more than most in the celebrations of winning the Ashes, tried to free his arms outside off, but he did not have enough room and only succeeded in knocking down his stumps for 12.
Tongue entered the field and immediately introduced himself, his second ball circling around the pads in front of Weatherold as the left-handed batsman flicked it past Jamie Smith.
Labuschagne was next, dismissing Tongue just past Cordon and was beaten even more decisively on the next ball. Offering an angular bat on a full, seaming delivery he was dismissed by Joe Root at first slip.
The recalcitrant Smith was now England’s chief concern and gave every indication that he was prepared to let them down, but he was struck by Tung’s beauty. Attacking the stumps, he hit the right-handed batsman hard and blasted through the middle, momentarily surprising Australia’s stand-in captain.
This continued Tongue’s impressive record in head-to-head battles with Smith, whom he has now eliminated three times in Ashes cricket and once in the County Championship.
Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey took Australia to the break but there was still a lot left to do to post a competitive score.