England's James Vince disappointed to miss century on first day of Ashes 2017/18

Top-order batsman run out for 83 to give tourists solid start before Australia fight back on Day 1 of Brisbane Test

England's James Vince made a strong comeback to the England Test side on Thursday. Tertius Pickard / AP Photo

England's James Vince was disappointed to fall short of an Ashes century but conceded he would have settled for his 83 at the start of a day which leaves the first Test in Brisbane well poised.

The No 3 batsman came to the crease after Alastair Cook's departure for just two runs at the Gabba, but he settled in well alongside Mark Stoneman as the tourists put on three figures for the second wicket against Australia.

Vince was ultimately run out for 83 attempting a quick single as Nathan Lyon managed a direct hit at the stumps.

England were 196-4 at the close with Stoneman gone before Vince and captain Joe Root trapped lbw by Pat Cummins for 15.

Asked about missing out on a century, Vince told BT Sport: "It's disappointing but at the start of the day if you'd offered me that I would have taken it. Hopefully the team can kick on in the morning.

"I stuck to my game plan pretty well throughout, so there's lots to build on for me."

After he was dropped by wicketkeeper Tim Paine on 68 pushing forward to Lyon, Vince appeared on course for a first Test century only for the off-spinner to snatch it away with a brilliant direct-hit to run him out attempting a faulty single to cover.

With Lyon at the centre of Vince's exit, it had an added significance after the spinner spoke out so forcefully earlier this week - apparently out of character - about Australia's uncompromising intent this winter.

Vince had stroked a succession of stylish off-side boundaries among his 12 fours from 170 balls, as he vindicated pre-tour predictions from the England camp that he has the ideal game to prosper in Australian conditions.

He previously flattered to deceive in seven Tests, the last more than a year ago, averaging under 20 with a joint top-score of 42.

Ultimately, there was an undeniable element of job half done here too, just when the notoriously partisan Brisbane crowd was becoming becalmed.

An untypically sluggish Gabba pitch was arguably in Vince's favour, and the lack of sideways movement off the surface - a menace to his aspirations at home - was very handy, too.

Nonetheless it was an admirable effort after Vince and Stoneman (53) joined forces at two for one when Mitchell Starc had made short work of England's all-time record runscorer Cook - caught at first slip pushing forward to some well-directed new-ball swing from the left-armer.

There were precious few further edges or plays-and-misses as Vince unfurled some of his favourite cover-drives and back-foot forces, and Stoneman played the percentages to continue his sequence of passing 50 in every innings on tour so far - following his three half-centuries and a century in England's warm-up fixtures.

The opener departed just before tea, during a rain-shortened second session, hanging back slightly in defence and done for pace by Cummins from round the wicket.

Lyon was then the most constant threat into the final hour, finding both turn and bounce and giving the batsmen precious little leeway, but it was Cummins who ousted the England captain before Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali's spirited partnership closed out the evening.

Much of the pre-match chat from Australia had centred on how fearsome a prospect their three-man pace attack was going to be.

England were not put off, though - and despite the shock of losing Cook so early after Root had won the toss, and then Vince's partially self-inflicted disappointment, they established a foothold in the series at least.

Asked about missing out on a century, Vince told BT Sport: "It's disappointing but at the start of the day if you'd offered me that I would have taken it. Hopefully the team can kick on in the morning.

"I stuck to my game plan pretty well throughout, so there's lots to build on for me."

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