Warner, Australia make flying start at MCG

Australia made the most of a flat MCG pitch to get off to a good start in the fourth Ashes Test against England.

David Warner dominated the opening session of the Boxing Day Ashes Test as Australia made a flying start on day one on Tuesday.

Warner (83) was undoubtedly the more fluent of the openers on a flat MCG pitch, on which Steve Smith elected to bat against England after winning the toss.

The explosive left-hander hit 11 fours and a six, bringing up his half-century off just 64 balls on a warm day in Melbourne as Australia reached 102-0 at lunch.

There was little assistance for England’s bowlers, with debutant Tom Curran (0-17) getting his chance late in the session.

But while Warner made it look easy, his partner Cameron Bancroft (19) struggled for the most part.

Bancroft rarely looked comfortable, troubled by short balls before scratchily reaching lunch.

Stuart Broad (0-13) and James Anderson (0-36) were unable to find a breakthrough, with the latter bowling too short early.

With Australia having already won the Ashes, day one in Melbourne is shaping as a long one for England.