Ashes batters run for cover on manic day one in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Dec 26 : Australia ‌finished marginally on top at the end of a chaotic opening day of the fourth Ashes test after an extraordinary 20 wickets fell in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

Australia nightwatchman Scott Boland was four not out with Travis Head yet to score as the hosts went to stumps at four for no loss in their second innings, carrying a 46-run lead over England.

With England bowled out for 110 in reply to Australia's first innings 152, it was the highest number of wickets in a single day at the MCG since a record 25 fell in the 1902 Ashes.

Josh Tongue took a career-best 5-45 to skittle Australia on the grassy pitch after England captain Ben Stokes won ‌the toss and elected to field in the traditional Boxing Day test.

But the tourists' batters then suffered a more ‌egregious collapse.

The batting carnage unfolded in front of a crowd of 94,199, eclipsing the stadium's previous record of 93,013 for a day of cricket at the 2015 World Cup final.

England, who have already lost the series after three straight defeats, came into the match under a cloud following reports that some players had taken a "stag party" attitude to a trip to Noosa between the second and third tests.

But they would have been well pleased with their work in the field early on, rattling through Australia in 45.2 overs to bring tea early.

The alarm bells were soon ringing, however, as their top order collapsed before they were bowled out in 29.5 overs.

Former England captain ‍Michael Vaughan labelled the pitch a "shocker" but Australia seamer Michael Neser, who led his team's bowling with 4-45 and batting with 35, had no complaints.

"We know it can move real fast day one and two, and then once that wicket