Honours shared on first day

Brisbane: England's James Vince was spectacularly run out with a century beckoning on his Ashes debut as Australia hit back to leave the first Test finely balanced after day one on Wednesday. Captain Joe Root and Alastair Cook both fell cheaply before the tourists reached 196 for four when bad light ended an attritional, rain-affected day at the Gabba ground here on Thursday.

Vince top-scored as the tourists scored slowly, but Australia loosened their hard-earned advantage when they dismissed him along with the key wicket of Root late on. Vince, on 83, scampered for a quick single off Josh Hazlewood but a brilliant off-balance throw from Nathan Lyon prowling in the covers caught him well out of his ground.

It was a moment of triumph for the spinner, who is normally taciturn but gained notoriety for telling the tourists that Australia aimed to "end careers" in the Ashes series. Vince, who was earlier put down by recalled wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Lyon, led a fighting English rearguard with Mark Stoneman after the early loss of Cook.

It took a special piece of fielding from Lyon to end Vince's 170-ball, four-hour vigil and give the Australians hope on a rugged first day on an unresponsive Gabba pitch. Eighteen runs later, Root fell leg before wicket to Pat Cummins for 15 off 50 balls after a review, in a another huge scalp for the toiling Australians.

At stumps, Dawid Malan was batting on 28 along with Moeen Ali, whose 13 included the day's only six. Australia have a formidable record at the intimidating 'Gabbatoir', where they have not lost a Test match since 1988, and where England haven't won in 31 years.

But Vince and Stoneman had few problems mastering Australia's vaunted fast bowling trio before Stoneman was bowled between his bat and pad by Pat Cummins for 53 nearing tea.