Head, Green shine on rain-hit opening day of final Ashes Test

HOBART, Australia, Jan 14 (AFP): Travis Head scored a magnificent century to put Australia in command at stumps on the first day of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England as rain forced an early close in Hobart on Friday.

At the close of play, Australia were 241-6, with Alex Carey on 10 and Mitchell Starc on zero after being sent in by English captain Joe Root.

Only 7.3 overs were possible in the night session, with a persistent misty rain falling on the ground.

Head came to the crease with Australia reeling at 12-3, but counter-attacked brilliantly to reach his fourth Test century in just 112 balls, with 12 boundaries.

However, one ball after reaching his hundred in the day-night match, he chipped Chris Woakes to mid-off, where Ollie Robinson -- who bowled only one over in the twilight session due to back soreness -- took a simple catch.

Head's 101 was a superb response to a much-changed England's complete dominance in the first 10 overs.

Root won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat in overcast conditions and on a real green-top of a wicket.

England, who have already lost the series, had Australia on the ropes at 12-3 after 10 overs, with Stuart Broad and Robinson almost unplayable in perfect bowling conditions.

They removed David Warner and Steve Smith for ducks and Usman Khawaja for six, and should have had Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped by Zak Crawley, for no score.

However, the game swung back towards Australia when Head and Labuschagne launched a revival, attacking change bowlers Mark Wood and Woakes.

Wood has bowled well all series but his extra pace negated the conditions and Labuschagne and Head went on the attack.

Wood's first three overs went for 31, while at the other end, Woakes also took some punishment, his first five overs costing 23 runs.

Root was forced to bring Broad back into the attack and in the second-last over before the first break he struck in an almost comical manner.