Cricket: It all comes out in rinse as Vince torments Aussies

Aussie bowler Pat Cummins (left) jumps for joy after claiming the wicket of England's Mark Stoneman for 53 at the Gabba yesterday. Photo / AAP

England batsman James Vince has made a brilliant start to his Ashes career, despite throwing his wicket away at the Gabba yesterday

In his first cricket test overseas and just his eighth overall, Vince hit an encouraging 83 during day one of the Ashes series opener before being run out by a spectacular piece of fielding from Nathan Lyon.

There are few tougher assignments for a novice batsman than facing Australia on a green-top Gabba wicket, but the 26-year-old looked calm and collected in his 238 minutes at the crease.

His inning helped England reach 196 for four when stumps were pulled with nine balls remaining in an extended day after an earlier rain delay. When bad light stopped play, Australia had just taken the new ball but could use it for only three deliveries before play ended with honours shared and Dawid Malan on 28 and Moeen Ali on 13.

Coming in at 1-2 after the early loss of Alastair Cook, first drop Vince steadied the ship for England and then forged a 125-run partnership with opener Mark Stoneman to frustrate the much-vaunted Australian pace attack.

Mocked as a no-name by local fans, Vince had also yet to win over English supporters, with selectors criticised for picking him in light of his poor test record. Before Brisbane, he was yet to surpass the half-century mark in his seven tests, with an average of 19.

His previous highest score was 42 off 49 balls against Pakistan at Lord's, while he tallied one and a duck in his last test in August 2016. He was also coming off a middling domestic campaign, averaging 33 this year for Hampshire in county cricket.

But he looked at home in his test recall against Australia, hitting 12 boundaries to announce his Ashes arrival emphatically.

He was fortunate when dropped on 68 by wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who failed to glove a simple catch off Lyon — his only suspect moment before his dismissal. But Lyon eventually had his man, leaving him agonisingly short of his maiden test century and England at 145-3.

Vince didn't need to take the risk after nudging one to the covers and Lyon made him pay dearly, scooping up the ball with one hand and shattering the stumps with an off-balance throw that brought the crowd alive.

Despite trudging off disappointed, Vince should be delighted with his display, considering how many other batsmen had crumbled under the same circumstances.

● Day one of the Ashes was arguably cause for celebration some 3months after the pay dispute ended.

Amid the immense bitterness and countless barbs that enveloped Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) this year, the prospect of the Ashes being affected captured the public's attention more than any other aspect.

CA and the ACA were both privately confident the five-test series would proceed as planned, but the standoff meant neither was in a position to make any sort of categoric guarantee until the new agreement was signed.

Steve Waugh, a leading figure in the formation of the ACA and signing of the first deal 20 years ago, suggested the spat would not affect players' relationships with their employer this summer. "It's business and you get on with it," he said.

Both organisations vowed to review the spiteful saga. CA's internal probe has been finalised but recommendations won't be made public.