Watch out, Joe! Root goes for the reverse sweep off Nathan Lyon and the ball wraps into his pads.

There's a huge appeal from Lyon - but the umpire says no.

Looked to be just going down the leg side.

Not what we want to hear....

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

We might get a thundery cloud later in the day...

Phil Tufnell
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Just a sensational first session. Australia getting that last wicket of Crawley, they have just got their noses in front. It's nip and tuck and it's going to be that all summer I think.

Harry Brook gets off the mark straight away with a dab into the off side.

A gentle drive to mid-off from Joe Root wraps up the over.

Nathan Lyon will resume at the other end. He has been very effective so far.

Scott Boland's wicket of Zak Crawley before lunch means there are two more balls left of the 27th over.

Harry Brook to face his first delivery in Ashes cricket.

Here come the players out into the middle.

New batter Harry Brook is among them. Three fifties and four hundreds in eight Test matches so far for the Yorkshireman.

Ade

Anon

Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

I don't think it's a bad thing. Why not build up a series? You've just played some great clips that everyone will remember, you don't remember other series'. It takes a little bit for the players to get used to it, but I love it. The fact we will remember Zak Crawley's four on the opening ball and Stokesy's face, that is what sport can do.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan and Test Match Special pundit has been reflecting on the first session, which certainly lived up to the hype.

Thanks, Ffion.

A brilliant text comm stint - and that's not the carrot cake talking.

Well, wasn't that fun?

Let's see if the afternoon session can live up to it.

I'm going to have my lunch, so here's Tom Mallows, fresh from devouring a slice of carrot cake, to take you through all the action.

Samuel: England were 289-4 at tea in the 2005 Edgbaston test and ended on 407 all out at close. Wonder if we can get to that?

Al, London: So much for Bazball, England scored more runs in the first session of the Edgbaston Test in 2005!

So many people saying we've still not seen Smith and Labuschagne bat on this pitch yet.

A fair point - but England still have a fair amount of batting to come themselves.

Not to mention that this guy is still at the crease...

Jack Olsburgh: Australia’s session with that Crawley wicket. Three wickets when put into bowl on a flat track - I fear Smith and Labuschagne will make heaps of runs on this pitch. 400+ needed from England but we look like we’ll be getting mid 350s atm.

Richard Kilpatrick: People taking as though England have collapsed of old. We still have the likes of Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow still to come! 400+ still.

Sam Rogers: Balanced session all things considered. England had the right attitude and Aussies looked a bit shell shocked. Fortunate to get Pope and a great ball to get Crawley who was looking brilliant. First hour after lunch massive for both sides.

Image source, Getty Images

Good news! England's home internationals will be broadcast live on Test Match Special until at least the end of the 2028 season after BBC Sport renewed its audio rights deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The new four-year agreement with the ECB has secured exclusive ball-by-ball commentary on BBC radio and via BBC Sounds for all of England's men's and women's matches.

In addition to every England Test, one-day and T20 international the deal has extended the BBC's commitment to provide live commentary of all matches in The Hundred as part of its comprehensive coverage of the domestic game.

BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said: "We know how much listeners cherish cricket on BBC radio and especially TMS with its unique combination, of expert analysis, lively, engaging and entertaining commentary.

For more on this story head over here.

And then there were only so many edges behind that Zak Crawley could get away with.

The wicket on the stroke of lunch concluded a captivating opening session.

If that's a sign of things to come, we're in for a treat.

The momentum chopped and changed in epic Test match style, with Australia flagging at times before striking back in key stages.

Ollie Pope looked in great touch before misjudging one from Nathan Lyon - the first of Australia's two successful reviews in the session.

Ant, B'ham.

Jim, Sevenoaks

Anon

England started in very England style - but in fairness to Australia, they stuck to their plans.

They were defensive, chucking the boundary fielders out in the third over, but it paid off eventually.