Ashes News: England begin rain-marred day 1 of Sydney Test against Australia on a positive note

The New Year has seen some remarkable scenes Down Under. Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand was felled down by a Bangladesh team drawing on an inspirational spell from Ebadot Hossain. In Australia, England put in a superb performance to signal their intent of putting in a fight in the Ashes. On a rain-hit first day at the Sydney Cricket Ground where only 46.3 overs were possible, England took three wickets and restricted Australia to 126 on Wednesday.

Australia chose to bat with Pat Cummins opting to bat. David Warner and Marcus Harris seemed to be in fine form as they looked solid against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The first session saw a rain delay that saw the teams taking an early lunch. On resumption, Broad struck. He removed David Warner with an away swinger as the left-hander fell to Broad for the 13^th time in his career.

Read | David Warner and his unlucky 13 against Stuart Broad

Having taken Warner out for 30, England looked to make inroads but the rain frustrated them again.

England strike but Steve Smith there for Australia

Only 21 overs were possible in the first two sessions as rain created havoc. The final session was extended, with Marcus Harris and Marnus Labuschagne looking to steady the ship. Labuschagne smashed Broad for two boundaries. Harris and Labuschagne neatly negotiated the bowling and notched up the fifty-run stand.

However, towards the fag end, England struck right back. Anderson struck by removing Harris with a delivery that nipped away off the seam. Harris’ solid knock of 38 was ended. But, Mark Wood dealt a big blow to Australia towards the close. Wood bowled wide of the crease and managed to straighten a delivery outside off that drew Labuschagne’s edge. With his departure for 20, Australia were on shaky ground.

Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja managed to steady the ship towards the close before another spell of rain brought the day to a close.

However, the weather situation in Sydney is not looking promising. The Met Office in Sydney has predicted rain on all the remaining four days and they are in excess of 70 percent. Looking at the way how the day has panned out, England might just about manage to avoid the 5-0 whitewash. Play will begin early on all the remaining days in order to make up time. England has won only twice at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the last 25 years of playing the Ashes Down Under.