• England fight back in rain-hit Ashes Test

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    England hit back late on a rain-marred opening day of the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney to put Australia under pressure.

    Australia, holding an unassailable 3-0 series lead, looked in a strong position at 111-1 before 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 at 126-3 with Steve Smith on six and Usman Khawaja, playing in his first Test since 2019, 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 – leaving Australia at 117-3.

    Wood angled one back off a length and Labuschagne, looking to defend from the crease, edged to Jos Buttler in a crucial double breakthrough for England.

    Earlier, Stuart Broad again proved David Warner’s nemesis, enticing a thick edge to Zak Crawley at second slip for 30.

    It was the 13th time in Ashes Tests Broad had snared his “bunny” Warner after tempting him to drive at a shorter delivery.

    Broad dominated Warner during the 2019 Ashes in England, tormenting the experienced Australia opener from around the wicket and dismissing him seven times in the space of 104 balls.

    Warner, who looked in good nick following scores of 94 and 95 earlier in the series, had a big moment on 21 when he edged Ben Stokes just past the outstretched hand of Crawley in the slips for one of his six fours.

    His dismissal came just four balls before the third rain break of the day and sent players from the field with Australia on 56-1.

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    © Agence France-Presse

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    Simon Borchardt