Righto, all the build-up, this is what it’s for. Mitchell Starc with the rock. Zak Crawley coming off a pair. Someone get me a towel.
First ball: Short of a length, outside off and pushing across at 141.9km/hr. Wisely left alone.
Second ball: Not far off with the second, Crawley has a nervous little half-waft at it.
Third ball: Fuller and tighter from Starc – 142.2km/hr. Angling across and Crawley is again prodding inside the line. Beaten. But at least these aren’t the full-blooded shots of England’s nervy opener.
Fourth ball: That’s the full-blooded one. Four. Full and there to be hit. Crawley is onto it, a little bit of shape back into the middle of the bat and races wide of mid-off.
Fifth ball: Full again and Crawley is able to chip into the onside for a single. Barring a run-out he survives the first over.
Sixth ball: Duckett doesn’t survive though! Gone! Edging to slip first ball. Gobbled up by Marnus Labuschagne standing in for Usman Khawaja in the cordon. Caught on the crease there Duckett, prodding forward and serving up a 26th first-over wicket from Starc.
The Gabba is absolutely rocking. “I think that’s the bounciest ball I’ve ever seen,” says former Australian Test quick Damien Fleming on SEN after that opening delivery whizzes through to Alex Carey.
Crawley avoids three ducks in the opening over of three consecutive innings. Crowd goes bananas as Duckett is caught for a golden globe. Starc on song early.
England 1-5: Crawley 5*, Duckett 0 lead by 5 runs