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The Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test was halted by rain as only 46.5 overs were bowled. At stumps on Day 1, it was 126/3 for the Aussies as they got off to a pragmatic start in the challenging conditions of Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Pat Cummins’ team coming into the match with a 3-0 lead are determined to register a whitewash on England, but rain cut-short Day 1's play.
After winning the toss for the third time in the ongoing Ashes, Australia skipper Cummins decided to bat first in front of 48,000 fans gathered in the New South Wales (NSW) capital. Both teams made one alternation from the Boxing Day encounter as Travis Head made way for Usman Khawaja after the Southern Australia player was tested positive for Covid-19. England also drafted in veteran speedster Stuart Broad in place of Ollie Robinson.
The overcast conditions meant that both of Australia's openers got off to a slow start before drizzles played their part. The play was halted for just 20 minutes into the match after the rain stopped play with 4.3 overs bowled. The first session was curtailed significantly as only 12.3 overs were bowled. At lunch, Australia were 30/0 with David Warner and Marcus Harris batting on 15 and 11 respectively.
It was not long after the restart that Warner was shown the exit door as Stuart Broad forced the left-handed batter to edge one to Zak Crawley. Warner departed with a well-made 30 as he and Harris put together an opening stand of 51 runs in 21 overs.
Harris and Marnus Labuschagne then steadied the ship keeping the English attack at bay. However, England's record wicket-taker in Test cricket, James Anderson provided the much-needed breakthrough in the 40th over as he forced Harris to give an easy catch to Joe Root, with the batter departing for 38 off 109 deliveries.
It didn't take long for England to make a mini-revival as they sent Labuschagne back in the pavilion in the very next over as Mark Wood got the better of the Aussies batter. Both Harris and Labuschagne put together a second-wicket stand of 60 runs. With 46.5 overs bowled, the rain once again became the villain of first day's play. After lots of thinking and no positive signs, the officials called for Stumps on Day 1 with Steve Smith and Khawaja in the middle, batting on 6 and 4 respectively. It now remains to be seen, will rain play spoilsport in Australia's ambition of doing a whitewash on the visitors.
