Mitch Marsh has rewarded selectors' faith with a career-best haul of 4/35, as England rallied to 271/8 at stumps on day one of the fifth Ashes test.
Marsh recalled alongside Peter Siddle at the Oval as Australia hunt their first Ashes series win in England since 2001, trudged off late on because of cramp.
That was the only thing that went wrong on a dominant opening day for Marsh, who returned to the field and the attack but couldn't snag his maiden five-wicket haul.
A counter-punch from Jos Buttler delivered the latest twist on a topsy- turvy day that started with Tim Paine opting to bowl.
Joe Root failed to make the most of dropped catches on 24, 25 and 30; falling for 57 as Marsh made amends for his teammates' sloppiness.
The allrounder replaced Travis Head in the XI that retained the urn in Manchester to offer the pace attack some relief.
Marsh did far more than hold up an end, igniting a collapse of 5/75 when a mistimed pull shot from Stokes somehow resulted in a skied catch for Nathan Lyon at point.
The 27-year-old then removed Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes to snare 3/17 in an eight-over spell after tea.
Marsh also held a catch at mid-on to dismiss Rory Burns for 47, with that wicket coming after Siddle, Paine and Steve Smith grassed chances offered by Root.
Root, who struggled to hide his glee after Paine opted to bowl, extended his trend of failing to convert half-centuries into hundreds.
The captain was summoned to the middle in the ninth over as Pat Cummins ended the 27-run partnership between Burns and Joe Denly, the highest opening stand of the series from either side.
Root rode his luck.
Siddle spilled a regulation chance in the deep then Paine put down a one-handed catch after diving in front of David Warner at first slip.
Smith's diving effort in the post-lunch session was arguably the toughest of the three catches but the superstar was filthy with himself.
Root looked set after his reprieves but Cummins dismissed England's best batsman for a third time this series, producing a similar delivery to the jaffa which uprooted Root's off stump at Old Trafford.
AAP
