Late rally restricts Eng
England's James Vince was left kicking himself after he was spectacularly run out close to an Ashes debut century, as Australia struck late 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 Brisbane's Gabba ground.
Vince top-scored as the tourists went along slowly, blunting Australia's much-vaunted pace attack at a venue dubbed 'The Gabbatoir'.
But Australia loosened England's hard-earned advantage when they dismissed Vince late on, just prior to the key wicket of Root who went lbw to Pat Cummins.
At stumps, Dawid Malan was batting on 28 along with Moeen Ali, whose 13 included the day's only six.
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 who gained notoriety for telling the tourists that Australia aimed to "end careers" in the Ashes series.
"It was a good piece of fielding. In hindsight I wouldn't have taken the run, but it was a good pick-up and throw to be fair," Vince said.
"I'm sure lying in bed I'll have a few thoughts about it (missing out), but at the same time if you had offered me scoring 80-odd I probably would have taken it."
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 Cummins for 15 off 50 balls after a review, in a another huge scalp for the toiling Australians.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: First innings 196 for 4 (Stoneman 53, Vince 83, Malan 28 not out; Cummins 2-59)
AUSTRALIA: Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith (capt), Handscomb, Marsh, Paine, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon.
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