England Take The Spoils On Final Test Opening Day

The hard work of Australia's top order was beginning to unravel at the SCG, on a rain-interrupted opening day of the final Ashes Test.

Australia slid from 105/1 to 134/4 as England took the ascendancy once again for what has been an historic Test series down under.

The hosts could not display the same amount of intensity shown on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test, but chipped away effectively once the opening partnership was broken in the final over before lunch.

The openers opened up a little approaching lunch but with the interval just three balls away, the out of form left-handed Hughes pushed forward outside off at Tremlett, with the ball sailing to Paul Collingwood at third slip- and the visitor’s  best catcher made no mistake.

In what is becoming somewhat of annoying habit for the Aussie opener, Shane Watson went for another unfulfilled innings when he nicked Tim Bresnan to Strauss in the slips in his mid-forties.

All eyes were on Michael Clarke on his captaincy debut; however he disappointed continuing his poor run when he went for 4-cutting to Jimmy Anderson in gully.

Tim Bresnan, following on from his heroics in Melbourne, was the most successful bowler of the day, taking 2/47 as England made the most of overhead cloud cover and a pitch offering significant seam movement.

Rain took the players off for 90 minutes in the middle of the day, before England picked up two late wickets prior to a second and final stoppage.

The highlight of the day was most certainly the debut of Pakistani-born Usman Khawaja. Khawaja had 40 minutes to ponder his first ball in Tests, with Hughes falling the ball before lunch before calmly clipping his opening delivery from Tremlett through the leg side for two, followed by a confident bristling pull next ball up.

Khawaja showed maturity beyond his years appearing to have plenty of time to play his shots, guiding Tremlett down to third man, and was confident to come onto the front foot in defence. He was dismissed top-edging a sweep off Graeme Swann to depart for 37.

It was clear from the start that Clarke was feeling the nerves of his first real day in Australia’s top job and his decision to bat first might still come back to haunt him.

Batting first is usually the way forward in Sydney, but one must imagine with unseasonably muggy and overcast conditions, the hosts might have been more suited to get their swing bowlers out there first up.

James Anderson found a boat load of swing to have a couple of stifled lbw shouts, although he was troubled by his take-off area, almost rolling his ankle with only his second ball of the day.

Mike Hussey - a prolific force in the first three Tests - was unbeaten on 12 at stumps.

Brad Haddin- who some argue should of taken over the reins of Ponting will join forces with him on the second morning to try and spark and old-school Australian revival.

Contrary to the rain coming down in Adelaide, Australia's batsmen will be hoping that the morning showers forecast for the area miss the SCG this time around.

England are still favourites in this Test match, however with a patchy rain forecast over the next few days, their seam attack will have to roll through the Australian line-up if they are to go for the kill here.

The pairing of Alistair Cook and Kevin Pietersen are favoured to top-score in England’s first innings, with an in-from Jonathan Trott sitting on a nice little earner of 5/1.