Australia’s decent first day of the last Test at the Oval could have been so much better.

The clumsy tourists dropped five catches but still managed to bowl England out for 283 under heavy cloud and with the lights on.

Australia will need to bat with more conviction than they have done for much of the past two Tests if they are to claim their first series victory in England for 22 years.

Despite some poor fielding, Australia bowled much better than the previous Test at Old Trafford in better bowling conditions.

In Manchester, England scored 592 in just 107 overs but almost two days of rain forced a draw.

At 3-184 on Thursday England were threatening to get away again before losing 7-99.

Mitchell Starc finished with the best figures of 4-82 despite being troubled by a shoulder injury that required heavy strapping.