The Ashes 2019 finale started with a fascinating opening day clash between England and Australia at The Oval on Thursday with a fortunate Joe Root hitting a fifty before Jos Buttler played a brilliant counter-attacking knock even as Mitchell Marsh left a marker in his first match by taking four wickets at The Oval, London. Australia put England into bat then removed couple Pat Cummins removed Joe Denly early in the innings. But indifferent fielding from the Aussies saw England captain getting a half-century, after surviving a couple of dropped catches. Marsh, who is playing his first match of the series, took four wickets to peg back the hosts. But a late onslaught from Buttler meant that the teams shared the Day 1 honours in London. At stumps, England were 271/8 after 82 overs with Buttler and Jack Leach unbeaten on 64 and 10 runs respectively.