Only 46.5 overs were possible on Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test match due to rain interruptions at regular intervals at the Sydney Cricket Ground. At stumps on the truncated day, Australia were 126/3, with Steven Smith (6*) and Usman Khawaja (4*) at the crease.
The start was delayed by 30 minutes before Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat. David Warner and Marcus Harris added 51 for the opening wicket before the former was caught at second slip by Zak Crawley for 30, off Stuart Broad for the 13th time in Test cricket.
Harris then added 60 with Marnus Labuschagne before James Anderson had him caught by Joe Root for 38. Soon after, Labuschagne nicked Mark Wood for 28. Khawaja, playing his first Test match since 2019, and Smith then lived dangerously for 6.3 overs before rain returned in the final session and did not allow any further play.
Overall, there were two rain interruptions in the morning session and a two-hour delay on either side of tea. Rain is also predicted on the remaining days of this contest, which may help England to avoid a series clean sweep.
Brief Scores: Australia 126/3 in 46.5 overs (Marcus Harris 38; James Anderson 1-24) vs England.