CRICKET: Australia 72-4 at lunch in fourth Ashes test

MELBOURNE – Australia were 72 for four at lunch on Day One of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, after England won the toss and elected to field first.

Number five batter Usman Khawaja was 21 not out, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey on nine, on a green-tinged pitch following an early burst from England pacer Josh Tongue, who took 3-24.

Travis Head was out for 12 after chopping a delivery from recalled seamer Gus Atkinson onto his stumps. Fellow opener Jake Weatherald followed soon after, scoring 10 before edging Tongue to the wicketkeeper.

Tongue struck again to remove number three batter Marnus Labuschagne for six, caught at slip by Joe Root. The young quick then claimed his third wicket by bowling Steve Smith through the gate for nine. Smith, standing in for regular captain Pat Cummins, has now been dismissed by Tongue in every innings he has faced him in first-class cricket, including twice during the 2023 Ashes Test at Lord’s.

Australia included fast bowler Jhye Richardson for his first Test since the 2021 Ashes match at Adelaide Oval. He joined an all-pace attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Michael Neser.

All-rounder Cameron Green was demoted to number seven in the batting order, replacing the dropped Josh Inglis, while Khawaja took Head’s old spot at number five.

England recalled Atkinson to replace the injured Jofra Archer, and Jacob Bethell made his Ashes debut at number three, taking the place of the dropped Ollie Pope.

-Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters