Joe Root's hundred rescues England on most exhilarating first day in Ashes history

By Nick Hoult, at Edgbaston

What a first day. Ashes cricket has run for 140 years but a series cannot have had a start as exhilarating as this before.

It was like lift off at Cape Canaveral, the Ashes rocket firing into the stars in a cloud of fire and smoke. Joe Root’s hundred, his first for eight years against Australia, was greeted with a full throated Edgbaston roar but the crowd fell into a stunned silence when moments later Ben Stokes declared.

You can never sit comfortably with this England side and if you have a seat in the Hollies Stand over the next couple of days then make sure you get your round in during one of the breaks because you do not want to miss a ball.

To declare on 383 with Root 118 not out, Ollie Robinson, who has a first-class hundred to his name, batting sensibly at the other end and two wickets still in the bag just to give the Australians a few overs to face before the close was Bazball in its purest form. No team has declared earlier in the first innings of an Ashes Test than England after 78 overs. Well, Stokes promised to rip up convention.

And of course what happened next? Stuart Broad was given the first over, not James Anderson, so he could bowl to David Warner, round the wicket with the slips waiting and the crowd baying. The great rocker Bruce Springsteen was playing on the other side of the city at Villa Park on Friday night and he would dip his guitar in recognition of Stokes’s stagecraft.

Warner nervously looked to get off strike in the first over, forcing Usman Khawaja to dive for his crease at the non-striker’s end when he called for a quick single and it was an enthralling 20 minutes to the close, nobody leaving their seats early to beat the traffic.

Was Stokes too clever for his own good? Or was he ingenious? With one of England’s greatest at the crease and Robinson looking sound England could have batted through, passed 400 and put forward a solid argument for winning the first day.

But Australia walked off high fiving each other, they smoked out English batsmen throughout the day with their carefully thought through tactics and survived the onslaught unscathed at 20 for no wicket.

Stokes has said before that at the fag end of an innings he would rather his bowlers were bowling than batting and with 40-year-old James Anderson at no 11 you can see his reasoning but Australia are set up now to bat with the pitch flat and blazing sunshine forecast.

Root’s hundred papered over some serious errors by England on a day made for a huge total. They batted at 5.03 an over, Root played two outrageous ramps for six off and Jonny Bairstow strutted his way to a run-a-ball 78 in his first Test innings since his horrific leg break.

From the first ball to the last it was high-octane entertainment, the cricket living up to the pre-series hype and England their promise to entertain. Zak Crawley cracked the first ball of the series through the covers for four, stroked his way to 61, Moeen Ali and marked his return by pulling Pat Cummins into the stands off only his 12th ball back in whites.

But there are some tenets of Test cricket that remain as strong as ever and batting first on a pitch like this called for a minimum of 400 and England left runs out there, not just through Stokes’s declaration but by batsmen failing to stay in and support Root for longer.

Australia spent months preparing for this series and their response to England was to try and control the flow of runs, turning off the boundary tap. It is credit to them in many ways for putting away their ego and adopting very un-Australian tactics. They left out their quickest bowler, Mitchell Starc, because he can be expensive, spread the field, shut off the boundaries and prepared to bore England.

Josh Hazlewood was outstanding in his comeback from injury, hitting that line and length at pace that has made him a world-class performer. Nathan Lyon took four wickets on a day one pitch but he was belted for 149 at 5.13 an over. Scott Boland had never before conceded more than 48 in an innings, this time he went for 86 at 6.1 an over while Cummins bowled way below his usual standards.

Australia’s ground fielding was ragged, they dropped two catches and failed to review a feather behind from Crawley. It is ominous that even in these conditions, and with such defensive fields, they created so many openings.

There was no seam movement and so Crawley’s defence was not tested. He could play his shots and unfurled a wonderful cover drive to the first ball of the series which whistled to the rope. After just two overs Cummins was down to two slips and allowing England to rotate the strike. England scored 60 singles before lunch, but lost two wickets - Ben Duckett edging a ball he should have left and Ollie Pope beaten by a quicker, flatter ball from Lyon.

Crawley fell on the stroke of lunch to give Australia the first session. England were teetering when Brook was bowled freakishly off his pad and Stokes played a poor shot to be caught behind for one.

At 176 for five England were on the cusp. Bairstow and Root combined in Birmingham a year ago to take a Test away from India and were back again in situ smoking runs and playing their contrasting ways.

Bairstow’s finest shot was lofting Lyon over mid off for four, the last hour of the afternoon a rollicking session as the hundred stand came off only 127 balls. When Bairstow was stumped trying to monster Lyon again, it left Root to play the lead.

He watched as Moeen came and went in a flurry of boundaries, and never lost his focus, running well and batting at a good clip with seven fours and two sixes, both lifted over the slips and the third man boundary.

His hundred provoked a prolonged ovation, the cries of Root rolling around the full house. He went on the charge playing more audacious shots but it was brought to a close suddenly and surprisingly by Stokes’s call. Whatever happens in the rest of the Test, the events of day one will live on for a long time.

England vs Australia, first Test day one, as it happened

07:02 PM BST

Will Macpherson's summary

07:01 PM BST

Nathan Lyon speaks

06:47 PM BST

Geoffrey Boycott's verdict

06:46 PM BST

More from Jonny Bairstow

06:41 PM BST

Jonny Bairstow is being interviewed on Sky Sports

06:33 PM BST

Stumps: Australia trail by 379

That was all sorts of fun. England raced 393 for eight declared, scoring at 5.03 runs per over, with Joe Root making a masterful unbeaten hundred. Zak Crawley (61) and Jonny Bairstow (78) also batted superbly, with Crawley belting the first ball of the series from Pat Cummins for four.

England’s declaration felt a bit ostentatious, and they may have left 50-100 runs out there. Time will tell. Whatever happens, they aren’t going to die wondering.

06:30 PM BST

OVER 4: AUS 14/0 (Warner 8 Khawaja 4)

There’s been no early movement for the England bowlers, and Khawaja plays out Robinson’s second over without alarm. And that, ladies and gents, is stumps.

06:24 PM BST

Will Macpherson at Edgbaston

Rulebook? Consider it ripped up. England opt for the earliest declaration in the first innings of an Ashes Test in history, then overlook their greatest opening bowler for the new ball.

06:24 PM BST

OVER 3: AUS 13/0 (Warner 8 Khawaja 4)

Warner drives Broad through the covers for four more. He has started excellently, full of attacking intent. It would have been so easy to just try to survive until the close.

06:21 PM BST

OVER 2: AUS 9/0 (Warner 4 Khawaja 4)

More funky captaincy from Ben Stokes, who gives the new ball to Ollie Robinson rather than Usman Khawaja. I can understand that decision, and there’s an argument that Robinson is now England’s best new-ball bowler. Even so, the last time Anderson didn’t take the new ball in a Test in England was against West Indies at Lord’s in 2009 - and that was because Andrew Strauss opened with Broad and Graeme Swann.

Khawaja gets going with a pair of twos, either side of a play and miss. Robinson switches round the wicket and slips nastily in his delivery stride. He gets his straight to his feet and is lucky he hasn’t twisted his ankle.

06:16 PM BST

OVER 1: AUS 5/0 (Warner 4 Khawaja 0)

Broad dismissed Warner seven times in the 2019 Ashes, all from round the wicket, and has got him 14 times overall in Test cricket. Warner tries to take a quick single off the first ball and is sent back by Khawaja, then Broad bowls a no-ball.

Later in the over it’s Khawaja who is sent back after a misfield at mid-off; he ends up scrambling to make his ground even though there was no realistic chance of a run-out.

Warner finally gets off the mark from the extra delivery, pinging an extra cover-drive for four.

06:10 PM BST

Here come the players

Australia’s openers have around 20 minutes to survive against Anderson and Broad.

Or rather Broad and Anderson, because Broad is going to bowl the first ball to David Warner.

06:07 PM BST

England's greatest

Joe Root is England’s greatest batsman ever - and he’s proved it again today. I love this declaration, it is England’s style. Why not get stuck into the Aussies tonight!?

06:05 PM BST

JL on JR

This has been utterly exhilarating Test cricket all day. Joe Root’s hundred has been a foundation innings for England. He is an absolute star.

06:03 PM BST

England's run-rate: 5.03 per over

That’s even faster than their strike rate under Ben Stokes so far (4.85 I think). It was great fun, but the old fart in me is worried about that declaration.

06:02 PM BST

OVER 78: ENG 393/8 declared (Root 118 Robinson 17)

Joe Root suddenly assaults Nathan Lyon, taking 20 from the over including two sixes - and England have declared! Oh my. That’s an extraordinary decision. Root ends on 118 not out, a truly wonderful knock. But should you really be declaring when Joe Root is still at the crease? I’m not so sure.

05:58 PM BST

OVER 77: ENG 373/8 (Root 103 Robinson 12)

Hazlewood replaces Green. Robinson is doing a decent job at No10, trying to hang around for as long as possible to allow Root to take England past 400.

05:52 PM BST

OVER 76: ENG 368/8 (Root 100 Robinson 9)

Joe Root clips Lyon for a single to reach a glorious century! It’s his 30th in Tests and his fourth against Australia – but it’s also his first in the Ashes since 2015. He has batted almost flawlessly, quietly stockpiling runs for the most part, while also showing his flair with preposterous reverse scoops for six off both Scott Boland and Pat Cummins. In the circumstances, it’s one of his finest innings: 145 balls, 7x4, 2x6.

05:48 PM BST

OVER 75: ENG 363/8 (Root 96 Robinson 9)

Robinson gets his first boundary, dabbing Green classily to his fence.

05:43 PM BST

OVER 74: ENG 354/8 (Root 95 Robinson 4)

Three singles from Lyon’s over. Moeen and Broad, Robinson looks content to play a supporting role to Root. He has 4 from 17 balls, Root 95 from 141.

05:39 PM BST

OVER 73: ENG 353/8 (Root 94 Robinson 2)

It’s hard to know whether this is a decent score, or whether England have missed an opportunity. At 298/5, with Jonny Bairstow running riot, they would have been eyeing 450.

05:38 PM BST

Green bowls Broad

05:36 PM BST

OVER 72: ENG 351/8 (Root 93 Robinson 1)

We’ve been having one of two technical problems - apologies. England are still batting.

05:34 PM BST

WICKET!

Broad b Green 16 

Broad misses, Green hits, and Australia are two wickets away from batting.

FOW: 350/8

05:30 PM BST

OVER 70: ENG 347/7 (Root 92 Broad 14)

Root reverse sweeps Lyon for another single. About a third of his runs today have come from reverse sweeps and scoops, including those two outrageous sixes off Boland and Cummins.

Broad slugs Lyon over wide mid-on for four, the shot he was trying to play in the previous over when he almost dragged on. He’s a dangerous customer, not least because, if he comes off, his rustic method drives bowlers to distraction.

05:28 PM BST

Scyld Berry: England need Root century

I would say it is still nip and tuck. Anything less than 380 would be below par after winning the toss and batting first. England need Joe Root to convert his anchor innings into a hundred.

05:25 PM BST

OVER 69: ENG 340/7 (Root 91 Broad 8)

Broad tries to pull Cummins and misses. “That’s the Stuart Broad leave,” deadpans Mark Taylor on commentary.

05:24 PM BST

How Moeen fell to Lyon

05:22 PM BST

Root's glorious reverse scoop

05:18 PM BST

OVER 68: ENG 339/7 (Root 90 Broad 8)

Lyon needs one more wicket for his five-for. The last spinner to take a five-for in the first innings of an Ashes series was Peter Such in 1993, a feat that was ever so slightly overshadowed by Shane Warne bowling the Ball of the Century the same day.

Broad sweeps Lyon for four, then inside-edges a slog-sweep this far wide of leg stump. I’ve no idea how that missed.

05:17 PM BST

Will Macpherson at Edgbaston on Root's reverse-ramp

Root’s reverse-ramp to the quicks is extraordinary. It’s one thing doing it to Neil Wagner or Matt Henry, but Pat Cummins?! It’s totally freakish and I hope we never start to think it’s routine.

05:13 PM BST

OVER 67: ENG 331/7 (Root 89 Broad 1)

Broad, hanging back in his crease against Cummins, gets off the mark with a flick round the corner. That brings Root on strike, and he reverse scoops Pat Cummins – Pat Cummins – for six! That is utterly outrageous.

05:07 PM BST

OVER 66: ENG 323/7 (Root 82 Broad 0)

The new batsman Stuart Broad survives a big LBW shout from Lyon first ball, and Pat Cummins surprisingly decides not to review. That looked really close – but only to the naked eye. Replays showed it came straight off the bat.

05:03 PM BST

WICKET!!

Moeen st Carey b Lyon 18 

Moeen Ali dies by the sword. He charges Lyon, who sees (or senses) him coming and beats him in the flight. Moeen misses a huge swipe across the line and Alex Carey has an age to complete the stumping. It’s the 10th time Lyon has dismissed Moeen in Tests.

FOW - 323/7

05:01 PM BST

Moeen back in Test cricket - dreamy...

05:00 PM BST

OVER 65: ENG 320/6 (Root 80 Ali 17)

Moeen Ali has started his innings with a bang. He crashes a cut for four off Cummins, then pulls over the man at deep square for six. For a while it looked like he might have holed out, but the ball just kept going and sailed into the crowd.

England’s run-rate since Ben Stokes took over last summer is 4.85 per over. Today they are scoring at … 4.92. They’ve gone even harder!

04:55 PM BST

OVER 64: ENG 310/6 (Root 80 Ali 7)

Root survives a hopeful LBW appeal after missing a reverse sweep at Lyon, with the ball running away for four leg byes. It would have missed off stump. Root takes a single, and then Moeen drives Lyon handsomely over mid-on for a one-bounce four! That’s a brilliant shot, both in intent and execution.

04:53 PM BST

Here's how Bairstow was sent back to the pavilion

04:52 PM BST

OVER 63: ENG 300/6 (Root 79 Ali 2)

There’s a short break in play while the ball is changed. Cummins replaces Hazlewood and drops Moeen Ali off his own bowling. Moeen checked a drive that dipped on Cummins, who reached out with his left hand but couldn’t hang on. Later in the over Root, who is batting in his own little bubble, works a single to bring up the 300.

04:51 PM BST

All good things must come to an end

Bairstow’s run-a-ball 78 was great to watch but was ended by a Carey stumping off the bowling of that ‘s--- Moeen Ali’ (according to the Hollies Stand...) Nathan Lyon...

04:46 PM BST

OVER 62: ENG 298/6 (Root 78 Moeen 1)

The new batsman is Moeen Ali, playing in a Test (and a first-class game) for the first time in two years. In the past he has struggled desperately against Nathan Lyon, particularly but not exclusively in Australia. He drives Lyon for a single to get off the mark.

04:42 PM BST

WICKET!!!

Bairstow st Carey b Lyon 78

Jonny Bairstow has gone! He walked down the track to Lyon, who dragged his length back and got just enough turn to beat Bairstow through the gate. Alex Carey did the rest, and Bairstow has gone for a barnstorming, run-a-ball 78. That’s lovely bowling from Lyon, whose previous ball had been belted for four.

FOW 297/6

04:41 PM BST

OVER 61: ENG 292/5 (Root 77 Bairstow 74)

A wide ball from Hazlewood is savaged to the cover boundary by Bairstow – and then he’s dropped by Carey! Bairstow launched into another big drive and edged it to the right of Carey, who dived to his right but couldn’t take a sharp one-handed catch. It hit him on the thumb rather than in the palm of the glove. It wasn’t easy, but a Test-class keeper would expect to take that.

Bairstow carries on his blacksmithery, carving Hazlewood round the corner for another boundary. Since reaching his half-century he has hit five boundaries in 18 balls.

04:35 PM BST

OVER 60: ENG 282/5 (Root 77 Bairstow 64)

Bairstow is flying now. He walks down the track to chip Lyon for four more, this time over midwicket. That also brings up the hundred partnership. These two have always loved batting together for England, all the way back to Headingley 2013, and this is their 11th century stand in Tests. Among non-opening parternships, only Sir Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen have more for England.

04:33 PM BST

OVER 59: ENG 274/5 (Root 75 Bairstow 58)

Root glides Hazlewood to third man for a single, the only run from another challenging over. Though he is playing superbly, Root will be taking nothing for granted. It’s eight years since his last Test hundred against Australia, and in that time he has been out between 50 and 99 on 12 occasions.

04:30 PM BST

Justin Langer on Bairstow's half-century

04:27 PM BST

OVER 58: ENG 273/5 (Root 74 Bairstow 58)

Bairstow works Lyon for two to bring up a crucial, uncompromising fifty: 58 balls, six fours, and a whole lotta goodwill after the horrible leg-break he suffered last year.

Lyon immediately switches over the wicket, I think for the first time today, and Bairstow sweeps savagely for four. Lyon goes straight back round the wicket, so Bairstow chips him over mid-off for four more! That’s outstanding batting. The over ends with another vicious sweep that crashes into the side of Labuschagne’s leg. He’s okay, just about.

04:23 PM BST

OVER 57: ENG 263/5 (Root 74 Bairstow 48)

Hazlewood replaces Boland. He was a borderline pick ahead of Starc, but so far he’s been Australia’s best seamer. Root, on the walk, is beaten by a spectacular delivery that seams and bounces extravagantly. Alex Carey enquires for caught behind but nobody else is interested. That’s a terrific comeback over from Hazlewood, who always seems to bowl well to Root.

04:19 PM BST

OVER 56: ENG 262/5 (Root 74 Bairstow 47)

A quiet over from Lyon, just one from it. He’s been excellent today. The ebb and flow of this day’s play – at almost five an over – is so similar to the first day at Edgbaston in 2005, which ended with England all out for 407 in less than 80 overs.

04:15 PM BST

Who would like to see that Root scoop for six?

Thought you might...

04:14 PM BST

OVER 55: ENG 261/5 (Root 74 Bairstow 46)

Before today, Boland has an economy rate of 2.31 in his short Test career. Today he’s going at 6.14 an over. Bairstow cracks him through extra cover for four more, a superbly timed shot, and then steals a second run to deep backward square. Aggressive running between the wickets has always been such a big part of Bairstow’s game, and his leg looked fine there. A cut for one takes him to 46.

04:09 PM BST

OVER 54: ENG 254/5 (Root 74 Bairstow 39)

Root skids back in his crease to push Lyon into the off side for a single. He’s played beautifully today, with a serenity that belies the occasion. He’s getting vital support for Bairstow, who waves the last ball of the over for another single.

04:06 PM BST

OVER 53: ENG 252/5 (Root 73 Bairstow 38)

Thanks Greg, hello everyone. The evening session starts with a moment of fortune for Bairstow, who inside-edges Boland’s first ball past leg stump for four. It feels like Bairstow has been fairly restrained today, yet he still has a strike rate of 79.

Hello! Out of nothing, Root jumps out of his crease and reverse scoops Boland for SIX! We’ve seen him play that shot a few times in the past year, but it still widens the eyes every time. Twelve from the over, a great start for England.

03:59 PM BST

The players are back out there and the last session is about to get under way

The game’s been in the balance most of the day and this is a big couple of hours coming up.

That’s my stint out in the middle done, I’ll now hand you over to Rob Smyth who’ll take you through to stumps.

03:51 PM BST

Nick Hoult's teatime verdict

03:46 PM BST

Will Macpherson at Edgbaston on the ever-lively Hollies Stand

03:44 PM BST

TEA: England 240/5 (Bairstow 33 Root 66)

It’s hard to say who is really on top at the moment which is a mark of a good day’s play.

On the one hand Australia will be very happy to have got three wickets in another session. They’re having to work hard for their scalps, but Brook and Stokes back in the hutch represents a job well done so far - especially considering how the first hour of the day went for them. On the other hand Root and Bairstow are looking good at the crease and if they can stay in for at least the first hour after the break then, you fancy, England will be doing more than well.

03:40 PM BST

OVER 52: ENG 240/5 (Bairstow 33 Root 66)

Lyon bowls the last over before tea and just two runs come from it.

03:38 PM BST

OVER 51: ENG 238/5 (Bairstow 32 Root 65)

Bairstow hits Boland for two before he has a dart at a wide one that nearly finds the big mitts of Green, who’s such a fine fielder as India found to their cost last week (and no, it didn’t hit the ground...). That goes for four before Bairstow then chips one for two to leg. This partnership is going along well at a time when it looked as though the Australians were looking to get well on top.

Meanwhile, the Hollies Stand is singing ‘you’re just a s--- Moeen Ali’ to Nathon Lyon, a traditionally warm Midlands welcome...

03:33 PM BST

OVER 50: ENG 230/5 (Bairstow 24 Root 65)

Root plays off the back foot to a full Lyon delivery and it wraps the England man on the pads. There’s an appeal and it’s given not out. Good call, it was going down leg.

The next ball he reverse sweeps for four before trying his luck again. BUT this time the ball beats the bat and it looks plumb lbw. It’s given out BUT (another caps lock that is well worth it...) Root reviews immediately and the replay reveals that it hit his glove on the way through, phew...Root then - yep, you’ve guessed it - reverses sweeps again and gets another four. Marvellous stuff.

03:27 PM BST

OVER 49: ENG 222/5 (Bairstow 24 Root 57)

Boland is back - it’s hot and Cummins is, understandably, giving his seamers short spells. The Australian doesn’t err on line a lot but he does here and Root says ‘thank you very much’ with a flick for four round the corner.

03:23 PM BST

OVER 48: ENG 217/5 (Bairstow 24 Root 52)

Lyon bowls his 14th over - it’s clear already that he’ll be doing the lion’s share of the work and also just how important he’ll be to the tourists this summer. Two singles are followed by a lovely shot from the Ginger Bradman as he hits the offie over the infield, down the ground for a majestic, and statement-of-intent four.

03:19 PM BST

OVER 47: ENG 211/5 (Bairstow 19 Root 51)

Two singles from that over from Patsy Cummins.

03:16 PM BST

Scyld Berry on the importance of this partnership

03:15 PM BST

Tim Wigmore on the Australian fielding

03:14 PM BST

OVER 46: ENG 209/5 (Bairstow 18 Root 50)

Green is bowling noticeably shorter than the other three seamers and it’s allowing Bairstow to get in, the all-rounder without the pace to really trouble this pair. Bairstow pulls one for two before cutting a wide one for four. The Ginger Bradman is looking composed and confident and is already 18 runs to the good.

03:11 PM BST

How Root is trying to combat Cummins and Hazlewood

03:09 PM BST

OVER 45: ENG 202/5 (Bairstow 12 Root 50)

Cummins tends to come into his own when the ball is getting old, he somehow gets it to talk when others would get up. He’s bowling to Root and traps the England great on the pads as he falls over to the off side. The Australian skipper looks very interested but it’s not given and Cummins doesn’t review. It’s a good decision as Hawk Eye shows it would have gone over the stumps.

03:06 PM BST

Justin Langer on Australia's day so far

03:05 PM BST

OVER 44: ENG 201/5 (Bairstow 11 Root 50)

Fifty for Root (his 59h Test half ton) comes up thanks to a four and a single off the first couple of balls if this Green over. The over ends with a wonderful Bairstow drive for four. A good over for the Yorkshire boys at the crease, 11 from it.

England could do with a good partnership from this pair, they love batting together. With five wickets the tourists will rightfully think they are well in this contest.

02:59 PM BST

OVER 43: ENG 190/5 (Bairstow 6 Root 45)

Cummins to Root and the former England captain flicks him for a single round the corner. Bairstow is on strike and the Australian gets one to talk, moving away with a bit of bounce. The ball has done a lot more since the break than it did before.

02:54 PM BST

OVER 42: ENG 188/5 (Bairstow 5 Root 44)

Finally Cameron Green comes into the attack - a lot is hoped for of this beanpole of an all-rounder. He’s bowling to Bairstow first up and start with a bouncer (not seen many of those today...) that the Ginger Bradman gets under with ease. Bairstow then gets right in behind the next ball and pushes with the full face of the bat for a scampered single to the off side.

02:49 PM BST

OVER 41: ENG 187/5 (Bairstow 4 Root 44)

Hazlewood is straying onto the stumps and Root is able to manipulate the ball to cow corner, firstly for four then, next ball, for two. This was a contest many were looking forward to - Australia need Root’s wicket and Hazlewood (eight times he’s got the great out) would appear to be the man to try and take it.

02:46 PM BST

And here's how Stokes was sent back to the pavilion

02:46 PM BST

Here's that bizarre Brook dismissal

02:45 PM BST

OVER 40: ENG 179/5 (Bairstow 3 Root 38)

Three singles from that Lyon over.

02:43 PM BST

Scyld Berry on that Stokes wicket

02:42 PM BST

OVER 39: ENG 176/5 (Bairstow 1 Root 37)

Big wicket that. Not just that it was Stokes but at 176 for five Australia are on top now. The old Boycott maxim of adding two wicket to the score to see how you’re really doing working well for the tourists here, if not England.

Bairstow is the new man and he has two Hazlewood deliveries to negotiate -  first ball the Australian seamer targets the pads (Bairstow’s weakness) they appeal (half-heartedly) for lbw, it’s not given but, after a wee discussion, the tourists review. Hawk Eye shows the ball would have gone over the stumps. The last ball of the over sees the new batsman get off the mark with a dab to the off side.

That was eventful and maybe a seminal over of the day?

02:37 PM BST

WICKET!!

Stokes c Carey b Hazlewood 1

Hazlewood, over the wicket, to Stokes he slants one across the England batsman, pitches it up there inviting the England captain to drive. Stokes does indeed drive, but only succeeds in getting a thin edge to Carey. It’s given out and, for some reason (obviously though he didn’t nick it), Stokes reviews - the replay confirming that he did indeed get bat on ball.

FOW 176/5

02:34 PM BST

Scyld Berry on that Brook dismissal

02:33 PM BST

OVER 38: ENG 176/4 (Stokes 1 Root 37)

Stokes comes to the crease - dare I say it? - he could with a score here. Third ball he goes for the reverse sweep, it looks ungainly and he’s lucky the ball doesn’t cannon onto the stumps. The captain then gets off the mark next ball.

A big 30 minutes coming up, I reckon, another quick wicket for the Australians and they’d be marginally on top.

02:29 PM BST

WICKET!!!

Brook b Lyon 32 

How unlucky can you be? Brook as played well but is undone as a Lyon ball hits his thigh pad, loops up high with fielders and batsman unsure where the ball is, when it eventually comes back to earth it hits Brooks on his back leg and then the stumps. Not seen a dismissal like that ever.

FOW 175/4

02:26 PM BST

OVER 37: ENG 174/3 (Brook 32 Root 36)

Good over from Hazlewood. He’s getting a bit of (conventional) away swing, bowling a decent line and length, and Brook does well to play this over watchfully without any apparent urge to throw bat at ball.

BREAKING NEWS: Australia bowl the first maiden of the day...

02:23 PM BST

Scyld on Travis Head's fielding woes

02:22 PM BST

OVER 36: ENG 174/3 (Brook 32 Root 36)

When you drop catches, as Head has done, the ball does tend to follow you around and the Australian comes in to collect the ball and gets a sarcastic cheer from the increasingly raucous crowd. The 50 partnership then comes up - it’s come off just 54 balls and, bar that Brook charge at Lyon, has come without a shot really played in anger.

02:19 PM BST

OVER 35: ENG 170/3 (Brook 29 Root 35)

Hazlewood to Root and the England drives the Australian down the ground for a peach of a four. He then tries the same trick two balls later but doesn’t time this one and has to settle for just the one.

Brook is on strike and he punches off the backfoot, he times the ball so well and Head at backward point does well to get there but then fumbles (again...) and the ball trickles over the boundary for four. The crowd will let him know about that...

02:14 PM BST

Tim Wigmore at Edgbaston

02:12 PM BST

OVER 34: ENG 161/3 (Brook 25 Root 30)

After four balls Lyon decides to come over the wicket and Root pushes it for a single to leg. Two from the over.

02:11 PM BST

Will Macpherson on that dropped catch

02:10 PM BST

OVER 33: ENG 159/3 (Brook 25 Root 29)

Third man has gone squarer and this is a gift from the gods for Brook who opens up the face to Boland’s first ball of this over for what is a simple four. It would be good to find out how many runs have come from that third man region...A two follows before he charges Boland and drives for four. He’s playing like the Brook we saw over he winter - great for England, not so much so for Australia.

Then a let off...Brook cuts uppishly to a short one, it’s in the air with Travis Head rushing in from the boundary. He gets to it, the ball is in his hands but...it then fumbles out. It was a tough chance but one they may wish Head had taken...

Boland then finds the edge of Root’s bat, but, again, it doesn’t carry. Good comeback from the Australian.

02:04 PM BST

OVER 32: ENG 148/3 (Brook 14 Root 28)

Brook is looking to attack Lyon, as he said he would, opening up the off side. He drives well but mid-off dives and prevents a definite four. Root then stays on the back foot for the rest of the over watching and playing the offie carefully, before bringing the reverse sweep out of his locker for two.

02:01 PM BST

OVER 31: ENG 144/3 (Brook 13 Root 26)

Boland gets another one to bounce (as with the ball that got Crawley) but Root plays this late (almost behind him) and with soft hands, getting a two for his troubles. A single follows to get Brook on strike who punches off the back foot for two.

01:59 PM BST

Here's how Crawley departed

01:56 PM BST

OVER 30: ENG 138/3 (Brook 10 Root 23)

First ball sees Brook at his attacking best, he goes out to in and hits Lyon over the covers for four. He did say that if the offie bowls something that is there to be hit he’s happily go after it and it seems he’s being true to his word.

Two balls later there’s a thickish outside edge, but it’s not really a chance to Smith at slip. That goes for two and a single follows and in the blink of an eye Brook is in double figures.

01:53 PM BST

OVER 29: ENG 129/3 (Brook 3 Root 22)

Boland continues from the pavilion end and once again Root is allowed to dab away for an easy single down to third man. The Australians are doubtless happy for the England great to play that shot as it brings the edge into play. He’s been out that way before, especially a few times on the last tour Down Under.

England’s rotation has been a mark of their batting today, and it continues this over. Both batsmen aren’t overly set and these easy singles are allowing them to get in. Un-Australian to attack the new men at the crease?

Boland then beats Root’s bat with one that neither bounces nor carries to Carey.

01:49 PM BST

OVER 28: ENG 127/3 (Brook 2 Root 21)

It’s Lyon to test Brook, again round the wicket. The Yorkshire batsmen (there are two at the wicket currently) picks length quickly (as with Root) and pushes for a single to deep mid-wicket. Root then tries to reverse sweep the spinner and is wrapped on his front pad. The tourists are excited but decide not to review, doubtless because after at least 15 seconds of deliberation they all came to the conclusion (correctly) that the ball pitched outside leg and hit outside leg. Two singles from the over.

01:45 PM BST

Will Macpherson at Edgbaston

01:44 PM BST

OVER 27: ENG 125/3 (Brook 1 Root 20)

Boland completes his over and Brook is away first ball - again all too easily - with a push into the covers.

01:15 PM BST

Nick Hoult's lunchtime verdict

Three wickets on a flat deck against an England side scoring quickly made it Australia’s session as the Ashes started with an engrossing two hours.

Zak Crawley’s 61 from 73 balls was his best performance for England since his hundred in Rawalpindi but he fell in the final over before lunch caught behind off Scott Boland to open up the innings for Australia in the afternoon.

Australia’s response to Bazball was to spread the field and starve them of boundaries. There was not a single maiden bowled in the session, England picking off the runs on offer in the gaps and going along at 4.65 an over, but Australia’s patience paid off by engineering opportunities.

Crawley majestically drove the first ball of the series for four to bring a packed Edgbaston to its feet, and his defence was generally pretty sound but he needed luck too, Australia failing to review an edge behind off Boland when he had 40.

Ben Duckett played a bad shot, dabbing at a wide ball from Josh Hazlewood, and Ollie Pope missed a straight, quicker delivery from Nathan Lyon; neither batsman doing themselves justice having been gifted a flat pitch on their first day of home Ashes cricket.

Cummins started with three slips and a gully but within four overs had three on the boundary, his response to Bazball clear. There was grip and turn for Lyon after just ten overs, the pitch bone dry, biscuit coloured and bereft of any green grass so the Bazballers could play their shots. Australia snuffed those out with un-Australian tactics but by the end of day one it’s an approach that could be fully justified.

01:13 PM BST

Not a bad way to start the Ashes

In stark contrast to the last Ashes series when Rory Burns was bowled around his legs first ball of the series, this time around England fared significantly better as Zak Crawley pummeled Pat Cummins through cover for four. Ben Stokes was clearly happy with his opening batsman!

01:09 PM BST

Scyld Berry live from Edgbaston

The Crawley wicket is a major blow to England, with three down before lunch after winning the toss, BUT: this pitch is so dry that it is already playing tricks. The two balls from Scott Boland that climbed steeply (none of the Australian fielders noticed the first time that Crawley nicked off) can be contrasted with two balls in a row by Pat Cummins, from the same pavilion end, that bounced before they reached Alex Carey.

Batting first is a huge advantage if England can make the most of it and force Australia to chase a biggish target, when the bounce will be uneven and the ball will be going up and down, even if turning slowly for England’s offspinners.

But it all hinges on England cashing in today.

01:06 PM BST

LUNCH: ENG 124/3 (Brook 0 Root 20)

That was the last ball of the session (two balls left of the over) and has the pendulum swung back to Australia? Three wickets on that track with England seemingly batting well and with confidence is a good effort and Pat Cummins and Co will be only too aware of that, as will the hosts.

01:05 PM BST

WICKET!!

Crawley c Carey b Boland 61

Boland with the final over before lunch. Root nurdles a couple to backward square before a single gets Crawley on strike.

The Australian then gets one to bounce a bit on the opener and he edges behind to Carey with high (ish) hands. The umpire, Marais Erasmus is unmoved, however, and the tourists review. And it’s clear they do so not without reason...it’s clearly hit the glove on the way through and that’s the end of a fine innings.

FOW - 124/3

12:59 PM BST

OVER 26: ENG 121/2 (Crawley 61 Root 17)

Lyon replaces Hazlewood (just the three overs in that spell for him) and he continues round the wicket. Again the runs flow, two singles for Root and a two and a one for Crawley.

Root is a fine player so spin, as his record in Asia illustrates, and he’s picking the length of Lyon well, which is what Pope didn’t do with his dismissal.

12:55 PM BST

OVER 25: ENG 116/2 (Crawley 58 Root 15)

Root gets his first boundary of the day as Boland errs in line, straying to leg and the England great clips him for four with ease. A single follows and those are the only runs from the over.

12:53 PM BST

OVER 24: ENG 111/2 (Crawley 58 Root 10)

Five from this Hazlewood over - again Root is allowed to dab down to third man without much jeopardy...Cummins might do well to take note...

What the Australia captain does do is move Warner to short (ish) mid-wicket with the ball starting to swing.

12:46 PM BST

OVER 23: ENG 106/2 (Crawley 56 Root 7)

Boland returns after a brief break. He bowls one short and wide and Root pushes for an easy two. An easy single follows and while the boundaries are flowing the runs most definitely are.

As I type Boland gets one to dart back into Crawley and the opener’s extravagant drive is beaten all ends up. A warning sign perhaps? The lacquer no longer on the ball might help the Australia attack.

12:43 PM BST

Scyld Berry tempting fate here...

12:42 PM BST

OVER 22: ENG 103/2 (Crawley 56 Root 4)

Hazlewood finds Root’s outside edge BUT it’s a thickish outside edge and the ball squirts for a single to the covers. Root’s head fell across the line there. Just the one run off that over - there have been no maidens so far.

12:38 PM BST

OVER 21: ENG 102/2 (Crawley 56 Root 3)

We’ve seen several Crawley drives so far this morning but now the big man brings out the pull. Cummins drops his length a tad and the confident opener rocks back and pulls for four. He then dabs on to the off side for a single.

Such is the nature of the pitch and the form he’s showing you have to think that Crawley will be looking to get to three-figures and then make it a Daddy Hundred a la Pakistan three years ago...

12:34 PM BST

Here's how Lyon snared Pope once again

12:33 PM BST

OVER 20: ENG 96/2 (Crawley 51 Root 2)

Hazlewood returns and Root dinks a comfortable run through point (again, they know he likes that shot so why not set a field for it?).

Here’s another subplot - Hazlewood has taken Root’s wicket eight times in Tests...they could do with him making it nine before the all-time England great gets in.

Two from the over.

12:29 PM BST

OVER 19: ENG 94/2 (Crawley 50 Root 1)

Root is in but it’s Crawley to face Cummins and he brings up his half-century with a single through point. That’s well deserved - he has been a mixture of elegant and, more importantly, solid (not a word you usually associate with him). The 50 came off 56 balls - bravo.

Root is on strike and beaten first up, he then gets off the mark with his trademark dab through the gully region. Not sure why there isn’t a man there considering that’s Root’s go-to shot...

12:26 PM BST

OVER 18: ENG 92/2 (Crawley 49 Root 0)

Pope will be annoyed - he was looking good and went back to one that he could have come forward to. That’s three times in the last four innings Lyon has taken the Surrey man’s wicket.

12:24 PM BST

WICKET!!!

Pope lbw b Lyon 31

Lyon continues and continues round the wicket and England continue to milk the ones with ease. Four runs (two singles and a two) are followed up with a four down the ground from Pope who uses his feet brilliantly.

Then last ball of the over Lyon gets one to turn and it wraps Pope on the pads. The Australians are confident - it’s not given though and Patsy Cummins reviews...

The Hawk Eye confirms it is indeed out and didn’t as many, including the umpire, thought pitch outside let.

FOW- 92/2

12:20 PM BST

OVER 17: ENG 84/1 (Crawley 46 Pope 26)

Cummins brings himself back on - he needs to inject some impetus into this Australia performance which, like the pitch, is all too flat at the moment. The runs keep coming, five off the over without a shot played in anger. This easy rotation of the strike will be, I imagine, frustrating the tourists. But the field set does allow it...

12:16 PM BST

Will Macpherson on what could be a huge moment

12:15 PM BST

OVER 16: ENG 79/1 (Crawley 43 Pope 24)

Mark Taylor is suggesting that  Crawley edged behind with that false shot the previous over. The replay and technology confirms Tubbs’ hunch. The Australians didn’t appeal, there wasn’t even a hint of an appeal and the replay also shows that Crawley has a wry grin on his face. Four from that Lyon over.

It’s all too easy for England that the moment, a lot more so when the tourists aren’t going to appeal for nicks...

12:12 PM BST

OVER 15: ENG 75/1 (Crawley 41 Pope 22)

Crawley plays an elegant, in-control backward drive for four off Boland - I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he’s looking good.

As I type that the opener then tries to whip one from off stump to mid-wicket and misses the ball completely. That ball took off and that was also Crawley’s first false shot of the morning.

A thick inside edge for one completes the over. England are still going as five an over.

12:08 PM BST

More on the defensive field from Scyld Berry

12:07 PM BST

OVER 14: ENG 69/1 (Crawley 36 Pope 21)

Mark ‘Tubbs’ Taylor (who doesn’t love the former Australia captain? If you have you have your hand up then shame on you) is pointing out on Sky Sport commentary that the directive for flat wickets has helped Crawley. The ball hasn’t moved off the pitch and allowed the opener to playing himself in with a mixture of singles and elegant, imperious drives.

Also by going defensive so early there are plenty of singles out there, three come off this Lyon over.

12:02 PM BST

Scyld Berry on the first hour

1. The Edgbaston pitch is an all-time belter.

2. Whatever happens hereon, Zak Crawley has set exactly the right tone: “we are no longer afraid of you Australia.” He has looked calm, composed and authoritative when cover-driving the first ball of the series and the first ball after Alex Carey had stood up to Scott Boland.

3. Australia have made a mistake in leaving out Mitchell Starc if he is their best reverse-swinger, because the whole square is dry.

12:01 PM BST

OVER 13: ENG 66/1 (Crawley 35 Pope 19)

Three singles are followed by yet another brilliant, crisp, oh-so-good-to-watch Crawley drive for four. He’s not played a false shot, not wafted at one way outside off peg (so often his undoing...). He’s just played solidly and waited for the opportunity to go on the attack. Great to watch.

11:57 AM BST

OVER 12: ENG 59/1 (Crawley 30 Pope 17)

Four singles come off the first five deliveries before Lyon, coming round the wicket, gets one to turn back into Crawley. The England opener does well to get a bit of bat on that before preventing the ball from hitting the stumps with his pads.

11:53 AM BST

OVER 11: ENG 55/1 (Crawley 28 Pope 15)

Two singles get this Boland over under way before another follows, down to third man, the fourth ball. That brings up the 50, it’s come at a run a minute, which, if I am not mistaken, is slow going for them (it’s all relative...!). Carey then comes up to the wicket, the England men standing outside the crease to Boland, but that doesn’t bother Crawley one iota, he smacks the next ball for four through the covers. That’s another statement of intent from the opener, who, and once again I stress, I do not want to tempt fate, is looking good out there.

11:49 AM BST

Tim Wigmore at Edgbaston

11:48 AM BST

OVER 10: ENG 47/1 (Crawley 22 Pope 13)

Only 45 minutes into the series and already it’s time for Lyon. He’s bowling to Pope who didn’t have a good time against the offie Down Under last time out. Lyon gets one to keep low second ball that the Surrey man does well to keep out. There then follows two reverse sweeps for one - it’s clear England will try to take him on, as and when he allows. This could make for an fascinating contest among a crowded field of them!

The last ball of the over is overpitched and Crawley goes after it and he does it well, driving down the ground for four.

11:45 AM BST

OVER 9: ENG 40/1 (Crawley 17 Pope 11)

It’s time for Scott Boland, the tormentor of England at the MCG some 18 months ago. He’s got 33 Test scalps at just 14 so far. He looks far from menacing but he is metronomic, will make the batsmen play and be at them all the time. He’s one of those Australian bowlers who reminds you of Damian Fleming and Paul Reiffel from the 1990s - far from flash but dangerous to underestimate.

Boland finds his line and length straight away, with Crawley given very little to work with. The England man defends well before driving a slightly overpitched delivery. That goes for two with the defensive field still in action. Last ball beats Crawley all ends up - a beauty that held its line and flirted with the outside edge. A good opening over from Boland.

11:39 AM BST

OVER 8: ENG 38/1 (Crawley 15 Pope 11)

Hazlewood looks as though he’s is finding some rhythm here - he’s getting movement away and good carry through to Carey. That is until Pope then cuts him imperiously for four. That’s a confident shot and one that’s followed up with a two to leg.

11:38 AM BST

What the Australians like to see

11:34 AM BST

OVER 7: ENG 32/1 (Crawley 15 Pope 5)

This pitch is flat BUT it’s not quick. Cummins finds the edge of Crawley’s bat but it doesn’t carry to second slip. The cordon may well need to step up a bit. A Crawley single gets Pope on strike and he too is able to dab one to cover and add another run. Two from the over.

11:30 AM BST

OVER 6: ENG 30/1 (Crawley 14 Pope 4)

Don’t want to tempt fate, but Crawley is looking good out there. He hasn’t played a false shot and is getting behind the ball well. A single for the Kent opener gets Pope on strike and the Surrey man defends two Hazlewood balls before pushes for a one to leg. It looks as though the plan to Pope is to try get him across his stumps and bring lbw into play.

Crawley adds another single and he finds the middle of his bat once again with a clip to deep backward square.

11:27 AM BST

Here's how Duckett was sent back to the pavilion

11:26 AM BST

Scyld Berry on that Duckett wicket

11:25 AM BST

OVER 5: ENG 27/1 (Crawley 12 Pope 3)

Two singles get this over under way. There are plenty of singles out there thanks to the fairly defensive field set by Cummins. The tourists are seemingly keen to allow rotation of the strike but stop the boundaries...

Another Crawley single follows before Pope scampers a two. While the fours aren’t coming the runs are still flowing for England - five from the over.

11:21 AM BST

OVER 4: ENG 22/1 (Crawley 10 Pope 0)

It’s been an eventful opening - runs and now the opening wicket. That was the way many thought the Australians would try to get Duckett out and it’s worked early on.

Will England continue to go aggressive after that early scalp for the tourists?

11:20 AM BST

WICKET!!!

Duckett c Carey B Hazlewood 12

The left-handed opener nearly chops one onto his stumps the ball before. But Hazlewood definitely has his man as he tempts Duckett with one slanted across him. The opener likes to play square of the wicket and he tries to cut one that wasn’t really there to cut and edges behind to Carey with the gloves.

FOW - 22/1

11:16 AM BST

Here's the first ball of the Ashes

If you’re an England fan, sit back and enjoy!

11:14 AM BST

OVER 3: ENG 18/0 (Crawley 10 Duckett 8)

Fine start from England on a fine pitch. Duckett finds his first boundary with a well-timed clip off his pads for four to mid-wicket. And Cummins is adjusting the field again - the Australians have already defensive and this is just the start Stokes and Co would have wanted.

11:11 AM BST

From Scyld Berry at Edgbaston

11:10 AM BST

OVER 2: ENG 11/0 (Crawley 10 Duckett 1)

It’s Hazlewood with the new ball, as expected, and first ball Crawley flicks up off his pads for four. It looks like a fine pitch. Even this early one it’s clear to see the ball coming onto the bat and the under-pressure opener is able to play his shots.

Already the tourists have a deep-backward cover and Ricky Ponting on Sky Sports commentary asking for a deep backward square. And as I type Cummins has taken out third slip...interesting and, already a complete contrast to the start of the last Ashes Down Under.

Crawley is on the attack again fifth ball, this time the drive is met by Lyon at that deep backward square position. The over ends with a Duckett single.

VERY early days, I know, but England are going at five an over...

11:04 AM BST

OVER 1: ENG 5/0 (Crawley 5 Duckett 0)

How will Bazball stand up to this fine Australian attack? We about to find out...

It’s Pat Cummins to Crawley and first ball is pitched up and...it’s crunched through extra cover for four! What a statement of intent, what a shot! The first ball of the Ashes have, in the past, set the tone for the rest of the series (think Harmison wide in 2006, and Burns clean bowled in 2021, and think the great Michael Slater thrashing a good Phil Defreitas ball for four in 1994) England will doubtless hope that that’s the case this time after that fine cover drive.

The next two balls are left outside off stump, before Crawley dabs one to the side of gully, he wants the single but Duckett sends him back. The opener then pushes to mid-on for a single.

A good start for England.

10:58 AM BST

The first ball is moments away

All the talk is done and we’re about to get under way.

10:58 AM BST

Who else is giddy with excitement?

I am pretty sure it’s not just me...

10:57 AM BST

The teams are out in the middle

There’s a minute’s silence to remember the victims of the Nottingham attacks earlier this week — Ian Coates and students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar. Webber and O’Malley-Kumar were two keen and talented cricketers. England are wearing black armbands in their memory.

After two rousing renditions of the national anthems we are now moments away from the first ball.

10:54 AM BST

What's it like to face the first ball of an Ashes?

In a few minutes, Zak Crawley will face the first ball of the series. Justin Langer did that a couple of times, in 2005 and 2006/07, when Steve Harmison bowled that ball.

He’s been reminiscing about the experience this week

10:51 AM BST

A word of warning from Scyld Berry

10:50 AM BST

Before all the fun starts...

A quick word on our very own Scyld Berry.

This on one of the finest cricketing scribes, by Nick Hoult.

10:47 AM BST

Justin Langer on the Australia XI

10:46 AM BST

Michael Vaughan on the toss

10:43 AM BST

No repeat of Brisbane 2002

Phew...for all the talk of this England side preferring to chase it would have been a HUUUUUGE call to insert the Australians on what looks to be a lovely, true, flat, score-as-many-runs-on-me-as-you-like wicket.

10:40 AM BST

Pat Cummins

Confirms that the only change from the Australia XI that beat India last week is Hazlewood in for Starc. So the Mitch Marsh thing was a bit of teasing from the tourists.

“We’ll have to rotate the bowlers a lot this series. It’s a bit harsh on Mitch but we’ll need to manage the attack [over the next six weeks].”

He also, unsurprisingly, reveals he would have batted had he won the toss.

10:35 AM BST

Ben Stokes speaks...

10:30 AM BST

England win the toss....

...and will BAT!

10:30 AM BST

Nearly time for the toss

Anyone else excited ?

10:29 AM BST

How are England going to play?

Well, I reckon they will attack from the off and we’ll all be thoroughly entertained.

But don’t take my word for it, here’s Jimmy Anderson...

10:27 AM BST

Fancy a flutter?

Having a bet on the first test? Find the best Ashes free bets to use throughout the five days.

10:25 AM BST

'England have defied a lot of cricketing logic over the past year'

Here are the pre-toss thoughts of Telegraph Sports own cricketing deadly duo, Nick Hoult and Will Macpherson. As they say, it’s the first day of the Ashes and ‘isn’t it great to be alive?’ I couldn’t have put it better...

10:20 AM BST

Will Macpherson on the Mitch Marsh teaser

10:19 AM BST

So, one of many questions we await the answer to..

...is how do England get Steve Smith out? He’s haunted them since his first Ashes Test 10 years ago. He averages 59.69 against England and, here’s the big thing, averages 60.71 in England. If you’ve been around for the past 50 years you are well used to seeing Australians having good averages against their arch-rival, but never with the average being better away from home.

He’s a brilliant, if idiosyncratic, batsman and if he accumulates runs this series as he’s done before Ben Stokes and Co could well be up against it...

Here’s our very own Tim Wigmore on How do England get Steve Smith out.

10:12 AM BST

Just over 20 minutes until the toss

The sun is out, there’s been little rain over the past few weeks — surely it’s a bat-first wicket?

Well, Stokes has been at pains to point out that his England are a ‘chasing side’. So regardless of who wins calls the coin correctly, Australia will bat first?

KP is on Sky Sports commentary duty and, alluding to the fact that England have been ‘chasers’ this past year, said: “It has to be a bat-first wicket although they chased late 300s against India here last year, so what do we know?!”

10:01 AM BST

Mind games from the Australians?

10:00 AM BST

More on the Mitch Marsh speculation from Will MacPherson at Edgbaston

09:57 AM BST

Who likes the festival bucket hats...

...that the England players have been wearing this week?

Well, England have been putting on a festival of cricket these past 12 months and so, perhaps, the attire is more appropriate than many might assume..?

09:49 AM BST

Strap in and enjoy the ride

There is never an Ashes that is not ‘much-anticipated’. The nature of the contest, rivalry and history of the epic battle means that, if you’re in anyway like me, fans are always like kids on Christmas Eve ahead of the first ball.

BUT (and I am sure you were expecting that word) there is something about this summer’s series that sets it apart from recent England vs Australia contests. Bazball against the World Test Champions; the hosts up against the side that once again humiliated them Down Under barely 16 months ago — there are sub-plots and over-arching narratives that dominate and fascinate in equal measure.

There is, also, more than a general feeling that Ben Stokes and Co are this time more than a match for Pat Cummins’ side. Since Brendon McCullum joined forces with Stokes England have won 11 of 13 Tests playing with a freedom and daring-do attitude that is more associated with T20. It has made for great viewing, and reinvigorated not just the game in the country, but also across the world.

Added up all that means this is the most-anticipated Ashes since 2005, when there was similar feeling about England’s chances ahead of the opener.

Such has been the excitement about the England side over the past 12 months that it would be all too easy to predict another series win and ‘victory for good, attacking cricket’. Australia are, however, not World Test Champions for nothing and on paper, at least, look marginally the stronger side. They have an all-rounder over whom there are no big fitness question marks, a top-class spinner, and possibly, just, the stronger pace attack.

The opening balls of Ashes have in the past set the tone for the rest of the series — think Michael Slater cutting Phil ‘Daffy’ DeFreitas for four at the Gabba in 1994, and think (how could we forget?) Steve Harmison’s nightmare-inducing wide at the same stadium some 12 years later. Whether that is the case today, stating the obvious, remains to be seen, but there is little doubt that the opening salvos at Edgbaston will provide a fascinating glimpse of what to expect over the next six weeks.

Get the popcorn ready, strap in and enjoy the ride because what is not in doubt is that the battle will be fiercely contested and highly entertaining.

Stay here for all the first day’s play from Birmingham, with play set to begin at 11.

09:46 AM BST

Mitch Marsh to play for Australia?

The all-rounder has marked up his run up at Edgbaston and it looks as though,but far from confirmed, that the tourists have thrown an early selection curveball. Either that or there are injury woes that we don’t know about. We’ll await Pat Cummins’ confirmation of the XI at the toss with more interest than usual.

09:33 AM BST

Boycott excited but urges caution ahead of Ashes opener

Sir Geoffrey Boycott has urged caution with the Ashes getting under way this morning at Edgbaston.

There is a huge sense of anticipation ahead of the first ball with Bazball set to come up against the World Test Champions.

The England great will be posting his analysis and comment for Telegraph Sport throughout the summer. And before the first day of a summer that is set to capture the attention of a nation he has warned that while the pitch should suit the hosts’ swash-buckling batting it could prove a problem for the attack (listen below).

“Edgbaston usually has no great pace and is good for batting; exactly what England want for their new brand of run-scoring,” the former opener said.

“England are not going to change their ways. They are full of confidence and conviction that this will work against even a quality attack. I think there are times when we will see some exhilarating strokeplay and magical entertainment from them.”

But on a flat deck with three similar bowlers – seam-up fast medium pace – working out a way to get the Australians out twice could be a problem Boycott warns.

“Can our bowlers take 20 wickets? With three fast-medium bowlers it will demand lots of patience and discipline over long periods to make scoring hard work for the Aussies,” the all-time great said.

“It is not easy to dry up runs for the full six hours. The ball gets old, does not bounce, does not move, it is tough. Fortunately, James Anderson and Stuart Broad have lots of experience and Ollie Robinson is a good fast medium bowler.”

Boycott is also worried about the form and fitness of Ben Stokes and the side’s spinner Moeen Ali, saying: “Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali are a concern for me. Ben has not bowled in matches for ages because of his dickie knee...I think Australia will target Moeen Ali in their first innings because his record against Australia is poor. They will try to break his spirit.”