Ashes 2013/14: Smith Century Helps Australia Pass 300 on Day One

Australia posted 326 runs in the first innings of the fifth Ashes Test on day one, with Steve Smith scoring a century.

The visitors are 8/1 after losing their opener Michael Carberry, with skipper Alastair Cook (7) and James Anderson (1) at the crease.

Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to field to take on an unchanged Australian line-up who are on track to complete a whitewash in the five-match series. Scott Brothwick, Gary Ballance and Boyd Rankin replaced Joe Root, Tim Bresnan and Monty Panesar in the English line-up.

Ben Stokes grabbed six wickets to prevent Australia from posting a huge total. England bowlers darted into the attack straight away as Stuart Broad bowled David Warner (16). Chris Rogers (11) joined the opener in the pavilion after getting his stumps bowled from Stokes' delivery.

Ian Bell made no mistake in catching the ball at second slip as Michael Clarke (10) edged Stokes' delivery. Shane Watson (43) was caught leg before wicket by James Anderson with 94 runs on the tally.

Broad struck again as George Bailey's (1) shot was caught by Cook. At 97 runs with the loss of five wickets, England seemed to have kept the visitors in check until Brad Haddin (75) stepped on to the field.

Haddin and Smith's partnership lasted for 128 runs before the wicket keeper-batsman succumbed, edging the ball to the second slip where the England skipper caught him off Stokes.

Joe Root came in as a substitute after Rankin pulled his hamstring for the second time in the day while bowling. Mitchell Johnson (12) sent Brothwick's delivery flying towards long-on but Root was right under the ball to take a catch.

Smith (115) completed his second century of the series and was the star player with the bat for the hosts. Stokes imposed himself over the remaining Australian batsmen, dismissing Ryan Harris (22) and Peter Siddle (0) in two consecutive deliveries.

Nathan Lyon (1) denied Stokes a hat-trick, but the right-handed bowler then wrapped up the Australian innings for 326 runs as Root caught Smith's shot at mid-on in the last ball of the 76<sup>th over.

England's top order will have a huge task ahead of them on the second day as they look to avoid another defeat in the five-match Ashes series.