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 Thursday.
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.
Vince top-scored as the tourists progressed slowly, but Australia loosened the hard-earned advantage when it dismissed him along with the key wicket of Root late on.
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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 wicket-keeper Tim Paine off Lyon, led a fighting English rearguard with Mark Stoneman after the early loss of Cook.
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It took a special piece of fielding 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.