Ashes 2017/18: 5th Test, Day 1 - 5 things we learnt from the day

#1 Dawid Malan's charmed life

Malan survived a couple of run-out chances

Dawid Malan notched up yet another half-century in the series, his fourth 50+ score in the five matches (he smashed one hundred too) but the knock at Sydney was fraught was luck. Having escaped a run-out chance early, Malan went on to have a terrible mix-up with his skipper, Joe Root.

If not for Mitchell Marsh's throw to the wrong end and Nathan Lyon's fumble, Malan would have taken the long walk back to the pavilion. To follow up with the lucky break, Malan was dropped by Steven Smith off Nathan Lyon when on 34. He went on to make use of the reprieves and compile a fine half-century.