England hit back late on a rain-marred opening day of the fourth Ashes Test to put Australia under pressure at the Sydney cricket Ground on Wednesday. Australia, holding an unassailable 3-0 series lead, looked in a strong position at 111 for one be-fore pacemen James Anderson and Mark Wood struck in the space of seven balls.
At the close after only 46.5 overs were possible following four rain interruptions, Australia were 126 for three with Steve Smith on six and Usman Khawaja, playing in his first Test since 2019, not out four.
Marcus Harris, coming off his 76 in Melbourne, batted obdurately for his 38 off 109 balls before he was stuck on the crease and nicked Anderson to Joe Root at slip.
In the next over Wood, charging in, got the prized wicket of Marnus Labuschagne for 28 leav-ing Australia at 117-3. Wood angled one back off a length and La-buschagne, looking to defend from the crease, edged to Jos Buttler in a crucial double breakthrough for England.—APP
