Joe Root was let off the hook by Peter Siddle and Tim Paine as England made a positive start to the final Ashes Test at The Oval.
Siddle, brought back into Australia's side at the expense of Mitchell Starc, should have dismissed England's captain on 24 but put down a simple catch at deep square leg.
The Yorkshireman's wicket would have been a vital one for Australia, with the visitors having struggled to test Root, who moved to 28 not out, or Rory Burns (42 no) following Joe Denly's dismissal.
Australia captain Paine also dropped his English counterpart, failing to hold onto a diving, one-handed attempt as England made it to lunch on 86-1.
3 - England have registered back-to-back victories at The Oval in men’s Tests; they have not managed to record 3 on the bounce there since putting together a 4-game winning run at the London venue between 1966 and 1969. Finale. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/psb9xwbXIf
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 12, 2019
Put into bat by Paine, England's Burns and Denly accumulated 27-0 by the end of the eighth over - the highest opening partnership of the series so far.
Things would have been different if in-form Burns had not successfully reviewed Marais Erasmus' leg before wicket decision in the fourth over, though Denly (14) was dismissed five overs later when he edged Pat Cummins to Steve Smith, who held on at the second attempt.
Root swiftly got about his business, clipping Siddle for two boundaries, while Burns fended off Mitchell Marsh.
Cummins bowled Root for a golden duck at Old Trafford, and the world's number one Test bowler should have had his wicket again.
A short ball drew Root into a poor hook shot, but Siddle failed to hold on in the outfield, and Cummins was frustrated once more in his next over.
Root flashed recklessly outside off stump, only for Paine - moving across David Warner at first slip - to attempt an acrobatic catch which went down as England held firm to survive the session.
