England win the toss and bat as the 4th Test gets underway
AUSTRALIA broke though twice despite some determined England batting on a hard fought first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street.
Having scored just 57 runs in the first session for the loss of opener Joe Root, England had moved to 2-120 midway through the day.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon had Jonathan Trott caught at bat-pad by Usman Khawaja for 49, just as the South African-born No.3 was quickening the pace.
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England captain Alastair Cook, who was not out 35 from 135 balls, was providing stubborn resistance against the mostly tight Australian attack. He was joined by Kevin Pietersen, 13 not out, who went on the attack immediately lofting two boundaries from Lyon.
Shane Watson had made the early inroads for Australia, when he had Root caught behind by Brad Haddin for 16.
Although not before yet another test of the now controversial Hot Spot technology.
Umpire Tony Hill turned down a confident appeal by the Australians, prompting an instant referral by captain Michael Clarke. The replay showed a small Hot Spot mark on Root's bat, and the decision was reversed.
Shane Watson picks up Australia's first wicket after Umpire's decision is overturned by Hot Spot
This suggested that, if players really were using silicone tape to avoid detection as has been alleged, Root is at the end of the supply chain.
More importantly for Australia, it provided a vital wicket just as the England openers appeared set to survive a tough session in heavy, humid conditions that had provided encouragement for the Australian bowlers.
Having been moved down the Australian batting order to No.6, Watson has undergone yet another transformation, this time from specialist opener back to would-be all-rounder.
The latest reinvention might not particularly please a cricketer who had made it clear he prefers to bat first. But Watson responded in the best possible way by making an urgently needed breakthrough.
England's Ashes-clinching 2-0 lead in the series had been a matter of skill, rather than good fortune. But, having won for the toss for a third time in four Tests, Cook again provided his team with a potential advantage.
So it was vital Australia used the new ball well in heavy conditions that would probably provide the best bowling conditions of the first three days. Cook and Root, however, frustrated them in first hour despite some tight early bowling.
Shane Watson and Michael Clarke both seem unsure what Watson's best role in the team is.
Jackson Bird, added to the Australian team for Mitchell Starc, came closest to claiming a wicket when Root edged his first ball just wide of gully.
Otherwise, despite some nagging bowling from Bird and fellow opener Ryan Harris, the Australians could not find the edge they needed from the bats of the tentative English batsman.
Bird was named for his first Test of the series, and his third overall. He was man of the match in his most recent appearance for Australia against Sri Lanka at the SCG, and had been impressive in the tour games here.
Starc, who was also discarded after the first Test despite taking five wickets, might consider himself slightly unlucky having taken three wickets in the first innings at Old Trafford.
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