Summary

  • Smith hits superb 144 on Test return

  • First Test since ball-tampering scandal

  • Aus recover from 122-8 to 284 all out

  • Smith puts on 88 with Siddle (44)

  • Smith adds 74 with last man Lyon (12*)

  • Broad 5-86, Woakes 3-58

  • Injured Anderson has scan on calf

  • First Test of five; Australia won toss

Live Reporting

Amy Lofthouse, Matthew Henry and Jack Skelton

  1. 'Root has dodged a bullet'

    Mark Ramprakash
    Ex-England batsman on TMS

    Joe Root will be thinking he's dodged a bullet - it wasn't an obvious decision. England will have looked up and thought about having a bowl. But the pitch is brown, with only a bit of brownish grass. As a batsman I would've been happy to get my pads on and bat first on this.

  2. Tim Paine loses points for using the word 'banter' there.

  3. BBC Test Match Special

    Australia captain Tim Paine, speaking to TMS: "We're thrilled to be here in England, the first day of Ashes Test cricket is awesome.

    "The wicket looks really good and we often look whether it will be harder to bat on day one or day five. It's dry for a day one wicket and we've got Nathan Lyon.

    "Peter Siddle has been fantastic around our group for 12 months without getting in the final 11 but we knew he would play a role in England.

    "Ashes cricket and the Barmy Army bring great theatre - you don't get that banter from a huge portion of the ground in Australia so it's exciting."

    Tim PaineGetty Images

  4. 'Root was going to bowl'

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I think Joe Root was going to bowl if he'd won the toss. He'll be delighted. England's best suit in Test cricket is their bowling.

  5. Teams

    England: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (capt), Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

    Australia: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (capt, wk), James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.

    Umpires: Joel Wilson, Aleem Dar; TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney.

  6. A grumpy James Anderson, bowling to Australia's top order at Edgbaston?

    England won't mind that.

  7. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    Jimmy Anderson's not had the best start to his day - a laughing Stuart Broad has sent me a picture of someone having backed into Anderson's car in the hotel car park.

  8. England 'not disappointed' to be bowling

    England captain Joe Root: "I'm not disappointed at all. It's overcast conditions. It'll be nice to get off to a good start. Whenever you come of the back of a difficult series it is always a great motivator next time around.

    "We've go so many great options to go to, especially with the ball. This morning is a great opportunity to exploit that. We love playing here, we get fantastic support wherever we go. The atmosphere here in particular is extremely exciting."

    On leaving out Jofra Archer: "Jofra is a fine talent. He's only a young man, he's had a serious injury and it is important we look after that."

  9. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    The Hollies Stand will be rocking.

  10. So, Peter Siddle gets the nod for Australia, with no Mitchell Starc or Josh Hazlewood.

    Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner are all back, as is Matthew Wade, and James Pattinson.

    Peter Siddle of Australia warms upGetty Images

  11. 'The boys are pumped'

    Australia captain Tim Paine: "The wickets looks nice and hard and dry. Hopefully we post a good total and we've got Nathan Lyon up our sleeve at the back end of the game.

    "It's exciting for me personally. The boys are pumped and we're looking forward to getting the first hour and session out of the day."

    On Peter Siddle's inclusion: "He's a class performer there. He complements the other two seamers really nicely."

  12. Joe Root has to be dragged away from chatting to the young boy who is mascot today to do his interview.

  13. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    England are doing exactly what they wanted to do, without having to make the decision.

    When you've got your experienced pair wanting to bowl, there is no place better to be as a captain.

  14. No Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc for Australia.

    You'd have got good odds on that before the series...

  15. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    I don't think England will be too upset about that.

  16. Australia win toss & bat
    Breaking

    And it's heads!

    Australia will have a bat first.

    Joe Root of England and Tim Paine of Australia toss the coin during Day One of the 1st Specsavers Ashes Test between England and AustraliaGetty Images

  17. Joe Root spins the coin, Tim Paine calls heads...

  18. Right then.

    Let's have a coin toss.

  19. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    I just like this breeze for bowling. I can just feel it's going to swing. It's not a bad toss to lose if it means you're going to be bowling first.

  20. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I think you'd bat first, just. Whatever you decide, you'll need to do it very well.