Australia reeling on 72-4 at lunch as England strike in 4th Ashes Test

Josh Tongue took three wickets as England tore through Australia's top order Friday on a bowler-friendly deck to leave the hosts in disarray at lunch on day one of the fourth Ashes test.

Skipper Ben Stokes won a key toss on a green track and his quicks feasted after sending in Australia, who limped to the break on 72-4 in overcast and chilly conditions at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 21 after coming in at No 5 with Adelaide century-maker Alex Carey not out nine.

Openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald fell for 12 and 10 respectively while Marnus Labuschagne made six as Gus Atkinson and Tongue found plenty of movement.

Captain Steve Smith looked to have weathered the storm, but he was cleaned up on nine by Tongue, who knocked back his middle stump after a mistimed drive to leave England's "Barmy Army" of fans in full voice.

Australia have already retained the Ashes after crushing eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run win in Adelaide, with England desperate to restore pride in Melbourne.

Castigated over their limited Ashes preparations, the tourists lost the famous urn in just 11 days of play with a scandal involving alleged excessive drinking by players during a mid-series beach break piling on the pressure.

Missing injured pace spearhead Jofra Archer, they reinstated Atkinson after he was axed for Adelaide and he opened the attack.

An aggressive Head drove consecutive boundaries off a wayward Brydon Carse, but he only lasted 22 balls, chopping on from Atkinson in the next over.

Opening partner Weatherald fared little better, tickling down the leg side to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith in Tongue's first over, with the Nottinghamshire quick then enticing an edge from Labuschagne that was well taken by Joe Root at slip.

Smith and Khawaja, who share more than 200 tests of experience between them, began to stabilise the innings before Tongue struck again to remove the Australian captain and leave England in control.

"Australia: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, (capt), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Chris Gaffaney (NZL)

TV Umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)