CHESTER-LE-STREET, United Kingdom (AFP) — Australia’s Nathan Lyon took four wickets as England collapsed to 238 for nine at stumps on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street yesterday.

Off-spinner Lyon, controversially left out of the first two Ashes Tests in favour of teenager Ashton Agar, despite taking nine wickets in Delhi in the final Test of Australia’s 4-0 series loss in March, had figures of four wickets for 42 runs in 20 overs at the close.

England captain Alastair Cook, who won the toss, was the only batsman to make a fifty as the hosts, who had been in a solid position at 107 for one, played a succession of poor shots in the face of accurate Australian bowling.

Tim Bresnan was 12 not out and last man James Anderson, who gave the crowd a reason to cheer with four fours, 16 not out.

Ashes-holders England came into this match having already retained the urn after a rain-affected draw in the third Test at Old Trafford left them 2-0 up with two to play.

But Australia could still deny them a series victory by winning both this match and the fifth Test at The Oval.

Cook opted to bat despite the pitch and overhead conditions promising assistance to Australia’s seamers in the first Ashes match at the headquarters ground of north-east county Durham.

His decision also meant Cook put to one side his own modest form this Ashes, having scored just 145 runs in the first three Tests at 24.16 with a best of 62.

England, on a slowish outfield, initially found runs hard to come by against Ryan Harris and Tasmania’s Jackson Bird, playing his third Test.

However, it was first change Shane Watson who had Joe Root (16) caught behind, although Australia had to challenge New Zealand umpire Tony Hill’s original not-out verdict.

Nevertheless, the Hot Spot thermal imaging device — whose inventor Warren Brennan suggested this week was being duped by players on both sides deliberately applying silicone tape to their bats — that forms part of the controversial Decision Review System showed a mark and England were 34 for one.

Jonathan Trott, like Cook, had yet to make a major score this series, but he looked in good touch until, trying to whip Lyon through his favourite onside region, he was caught off bat and pad by diving short leg Usman Khawaja for 49.

Pietersen, as happened during his Old Trafford century, didn’t want Lyon to dictate terms.

He drove him down the ground and next ball lofted him over mid-off for another four.