Oh, hello!

It takes Ollie Pope just three balls to reverse sweep.

Nathan Lyon in the 10th over!

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

That was a beauty from Scott Boland. Right in the channel.

Ah, yes, 1936. I remember it well.

Zak Crawley drives gloriously as Scott Boland offers some width (!) but Travis Head is patrolling the cover boundary.

Boland quickly corrects himself, though. He beats Crawley's outside edge with a beauty.

Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

England scored more off the first seven overs of an Australia first innings than any side since South Africa got off to a flyer at the old Wanderers ground in Johannesburg in 1936.

A surprise to absolutely no one, Boland's first ball is on a good length outside off stump.

A loose drive from Crawley draws some oooohs from the Australia fielders. They haven't had much to 'ooooh' this morning, in fairness.

Here's the man many of us have been saying will have a big impact this summer.

Scott Boland with ball in hand.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Rogers: England being allowed singles far too easily! If the good balls are going for ones, Aussies have got big problems!

David Collicutt: Listening in from Los Angeles. US Open golf and the Ashes today as well .

TheManwithaview: I'm listening in the Hana Valley, near the beautiful city of Olomouc in Czech Republic. Heading home.

Patient and rebuild, Alastair?

Ollie Pope has just charged down the wicket to Josh Hazlewood!

It's a dot, but still has the desired effect, knocking Hazlewood off his length next ball and Pope gratefully late-cuts for four.

This is good. So good.

Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

England do go up and down the gears, it isn't always crash, bang, wallop. There are times when they are prepared to be patient and rebuild.

Image source, Getty Images

England are dropping and running the singles pretty easily.

Australia's bowlers aren't used to this.

Over to you, Pat Cummins.

Zak Crawley edges... but just short of slip.

And breathe.

Careful with these 'work' texts, people. Don't want to get anyone in too much trouble.

The boundaries have dried up slightly, which is a weird thing to say in the sixth over of a Test match.

But it isn't much of a surprise as Australia have their sweepers out already.

Daniel Wright: Just found a nice quiet spot in the sun for "studying"- listening to the Ashes is the perfect way to spend a free lesson I reckon.

Ben: Year 10s in a mock exam, time to listen to some cricket in my classroom!

Sorry, Adam.

Adam

Ollie Pope is quickly into his work, nudging and nurdling his way around Edgbaston.

Every run is greeted with a huge cheer. What an atmosphere. The Hollies never lets us down.

Let's ignore the wicket and just watch the boundaries instead. That's how cricket works, right?

David Cosgrove: By the way, BazBall is running in the 2.25 at York today.

Ollie Pope joins Zak Crawley in the middle.

An early strike for Australia.

How has it only been four overs? I'm not sure I've breathed yet.