Hampshire hero stars on day one of Ashes

England closed on 196 for four after winning the toss and choosing to bat against the Aussies at the Gabba.

Vince was pressed into action earlier than the tourists would have liked as Alastair Cook was removed for two just 16 balls into the 70th Ashes battle.

The Hampshire skipper rose to the challenge, though, sharing a superb partnership of 125 with Mark Stoneman (53) to get England back on track.

Vince was dropped on 68 by Aussie keeper Tim Paine – the shock selection in the host line-up – off the bowling of off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

A thin edge was shelled by the gloveman as the England right-hander motored on towards a maiden Test match century.

But it wasn’t to be. The 26-year-old had added a further 15 runs before Lyon took matters into his own hands.

As Vince called skipper Joe Root through for a quick single into the covers, the Aussie bowler swooped to run him out at the bowler’s end.

Vince’s 83 came off 170 deliveries and included 12 fours. It was his first Test match half-century in his eighth match.

Root could only muster 15 but Dawid Malan (28 not out) and Moeen Ali (13 not out) took the score to 196 in the 81st over when the umpires decided the light was too bad to continue.