The Ashes started at Edgbaston today as Joe Root looks to continue England’s success this summer.
The one-day side won the World Cup in dramatic fashion and Root will demand his team can impress in five Test matches against rivals Australia.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat but it didn’t start well for them as Stuart Broad took two early wickets for the home side.
Chris Woakes then came into the attack and took a third to leave Australia 35-3. Steve Smith and Travis Head rebuilt but Woakes got the latter lbw shortly after lunch to make it 99-4.
The Australia captain was lucky to escape shortly after as he was given out lbw.
But he correctly reviewed and ball tracking suggested his stumps would be missed to leave England feeling aggrieved. Woakes soon grabbed his third though as Australia slumped to 105-5.
Broad came back into the attack and took a further two wickets to leave the tourists in real trouble at 112-7 before Ben Stokes got in on the act, trapping James Pattinson lbw.
Australia made it through to tea at 154-8 before Peter Siddle was eventually caught for 44. Steve Smith then brought up his century off 184 balls with before being eventually out for 144 with Australia all out for 284.
You can see the live scorecard below as well as the complete team line-ups as The Ashes gets underway.
Ahead of the match Root has admitted he wants revenge after England were thumped 4-0 Down Under in the last Ashes series.
“You look back at an experience like that and take as much out of it as you can,” said Root.
“I felt absolutely gutted and raw at the end of it.
“I never want to lose a big series like the Ashes, but it does make you more steely and desperate to turn things around this time.”
Root has also revealed his England side have the chance to become heroes with a memorable win over Australia in the coming weeks.
“It’s easy to get carried away in a dream world and it is something growing up as a kid you want to be a part of,” he explained.
“It’s an opportunity for this team to put themselves in the bracket with some famous teams, but we have to earn that right.
“We have to play some good cricket to get there and we’re more than capable of doing so.”
As well as battling for the Ashes urn the series marks the start of a new competition – the World Test Championship.
England and Australia will be joined by India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh.
Each side plays six series, three home and three away over the course of the next two years.
There will be points awarded for every match with the top two meeting in the UK in 2021.