England has clawed its way back into the Old Trafford Test after asking Australia to bat first in Manchester, with the visitors ruing a handful of soft dismissals on day one of the fourth Ashes Test.
The Australians are 8-299, with Mitchell Starc (23*) and captain Pat Cummins (1*) unbeaten at stumps, after Chris Woakes (4-52) ripped through the middle order on Wednesday afternoon.
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The two sides exchanged blows throughout the seesawing day — whenever Australia started mounting a partnership, England would seize back control with a couple of breakthroughs.
Four of Australia’s…