Ashes 2013-14: Australia v England, fourth Test, day one – in pictures

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!! Well Boxing Day and this Barmy Army fan is getting into the festive spirit Photograph: JULIAN SMITH/EPA

Michael Clarke wins the toss and puts England into bat. Despite tight bowling from the Australians, England's opening pairing of Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry start strongly Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

Cook edges the ball past Brad Haddin, right, and Shane Watson Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

With the England captain on 27 and his partnership with Carberry edging towards 50, Cook prods a drive at one angling across him, edging it to his opposite captain at slip Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Mitchell Johnson is racking up deliveries of around 150kph Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Ryan Harris looks on as his delivery is edged toward Clarke, left, and Steven Smith by Carberry … Photograph: Julian Smith/EPA

But Smith drops the catch. At lunch the tourists are 71-1 Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

A few overs after lunch England lose their second wicket when Shane Watson clean bowls Carberry Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Not long after England creep past the hundred mark Joe Root is heading back to the pavillion after he edges Harris' delivery straight to Haddin Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Ian Bell comes in to partner Kevin Pietersen. The two of them add to England's tally but at a snail's pace rather than at a rate of knots. During Pietersen's first 59 minutes at the crease, he only racks up four runs Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

There are 91,092 spectators squeezed into the MCG, a new world best for the highest recorded cricket crowd Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

There is actually a rare bit of excitement for the 91,092 shortly after tea when Pietersen has to dive to the crease to avoid being run out Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Harris gets his second wicket of the innings when Bell nicks one into the gloves of Haddin Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Pietersen avoids following him thanks to the slippery hands of George Bailey Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Pietersen continues to up his tally Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

And soon reaches his half century, which garnishes a standing ovation from the England fans Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Ben Stokes hits a four and a six in one over, thus getting more boundaries in one over than England got in the previous 25. However, not long after he edges a Johnson delivery to Haddin and is out Photograph: Andy Brownbill/AP

Jonny Bairstow thwacks Johnson for six before the Aussie bowler gets his revenge by clean blowing the England batsman Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Peter Siddle, Clarke and David Warner gesture towards the Barmy Army as Bairstow trudges off the pitch Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Pietersen has a message for the fans too as he kisses his bat when he walks off unbeaten on 67 at the end of play. England have worked hard all day but have a slim total to show for their toil as they go in on 226-6 Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images