Ashes: Smith puts Australia on top in opener

All-rounder strikes century as England trail by 318 on day one

SYDNEY: Australia recovered on the back of a Steve Smith home-town century and more Brad Haddin batting heroics to put reeling England on the rack again in the final Sydney Ashes Test on Friday.

The Australians, sent into bat after Alastair Cook’s first toss win of the series, stormed back from a parlous 97 for five to leave the beleaguered tourists in familiar trouble by opening day stumps.

Australia were all out for 326 late in the day with England losing the wicket of Michael Carberry for a duck to reach stumps at eight for one with Cook on seven and nightwatchman Jimmy Anderson on one.

Smith and Haddin rescued the home team with a 128-run sixth-wicket stand before Haddin went for his sixth score over 50 in the series and Smith was last man out for 115.

Paceman Ben Stokes finished with six wickets for 99 as easily the best English bowler.

“I haven’t played with too many nerves in this series,” said Smith. “I’ve felt quite good every time I've gone to the crease.”

“Obviously I haven’t converted into big scores as much as I would have liked, but I've certainly felt good at the crease and today [Friday], I guess, was my day.”

The number five cracked 17 fours and a six in his 154-ball century. Haddin, the bane of the English bowlers in this series, was finally out for 75 off 90 balls post-tea to help in the rescue act with Smith.

We started well: Stokes

Stokes spearheaded the under-manned English bowling attack, which was weakened when Boyd Rankin went off with a hamstring injury while bowling his ninth over.

Stokes claimed the wickets of Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and Smith in his 20th over to wrap up the Australian resistance.

“We started really well. We had them 90-odd for five and then Haddin and Smith counter-attacked that start that we got,” said Stokes.

“I think they got 50, 60 too many we would have liked. I’m pretty happy to get six wickets. The bowling is always improving.”

Young Durham leg-spinner Borthwick claimed his first wicket in his fifth over in Test cricket late in the day when he enticed Mitchell Johnson to hit lustily to substitute Joe Root at long-on for 12.

Australia, who are chasing a 5-0 sweep for only the third time in Ashes history, remained unchanged for the fifth consecutive Test after all-rounder Watson (groin) and paceman Ryan Harris (knee) were cleared to play.

England sprung a surprise by dropping Root and elevating Ian Bell to number three.