Summary

  • England declare on 393-8 after Root hits brilliant century off just 145 balls

  • Earliest ever declaration in the first innings of an Ashes Test

  • Root and Bairstow (78) put on 121 for sixth wicket

  • Brook (32) & Stokes (1) fall after lunch to leave England 176-5

  • Crawley, who creamed first ball of match through covers for four, hits 61

  • Watch Today at the Test at 19:00 on BBC Two and iPlayer (UK only)

Live Reporting

Ffion Wynne, Tom Mallows and Sam Drury

  1. Andy Zaltzman's Daily Ashes quiz

    Thanks for all your answers. It's not time to reveal the answer to Andy Zaltzman's quiz question.

    The question was...

    Since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over last summer, England have scored their runs at an unprecedented 4.85 per over, and lost a wicket every 8.2 overs.

    Extrapolated over 80 overs of cricket, up to the new ball becoming available, this equates to a score of 388.7 for 9.6 – which, despite cricket's love of unnecessary decimal places, we will round up to 389 all out.

    In Ashes cricket during the supposedly swinging 1960s, what was the average score in 80 overs of play?

  2. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    HatsPA Media

    Alongside the scorecard can there also please be a running record of how many people are viewing the live-text page/skiving off work? Strength in numbers reduces guilt I hear.

    Tom in Guildford

    The office is not at it’s most productive this morning, the excitement for the first day of an Ashes series is too much!

    Josh & Lily, Manchester

    I’m sat in my last lecture of the year pretending I’m not refreshing the live text and focussing on nothing except Joe Root’s impending century.

    Nathan in Oxford

  3. Greatest ever Ashes sledges

    The Ashes is not only a place for some of the most exciting and intense cricket but also some of the best, most cutting sledges...

    Ashes 2023: The art of mastering Ashes sledging

  4. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    Re: Ashes baby @ 9:56. If your baby is born at 11am you gotta go for Ashley - gender neutral as well so no worries!

    Anon

    Re: Peter 09.56 If you do have the first ashes baby of 2023, will you please name them Baz? The future of the Ashes depends on you!

    Ian in Harrogate

  5. How's stat?!

    BairstowGetty Images
    • England have lost two of their last three Tests at Edgbaston, having been defeated by Australia in 2019 and New Zealand in 2021. Before the 2019 defeat, they had not lost in Birmingham since 2001.
    • Edgbaston has traditionally been a good venue to bowl first at. The win percentage for teams batting first in the last 20 years is just 37%, the lowest of any UK ground to have hosted 10 matches or more in that time.
    • David Warner needs 112 runs to reach 2000 Test runs against England.
    • Jonny Bairstow needs 32 runs to reach 500 in Tests at Edgbaston.

  6. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    While my class are writing their new spellings, I am concentrating on more important matters..

    George in Surrey

    Computer screen in a classroomGeorge in Surrey

  7. MarshGetty Images

    Rumours circulating that Mitch Marsh (!) is now marking his run-up and Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are nowhere to be seen...

    Now that would be a shock! Could just be some fun and games from the Australians.

    The toss is just 20 minutes away.

  8. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Edgbaston

    Steve Smith has found something of note on a length on the pitch. He and Nathan Lyon are pointing while taking a good look.

    Is it going to turn?

  9. Get Involved - Zaltzman's daily quiz

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    It's got to be E - 273-8! Or I'll drink a can of Ed's warm wine!

    Greg in London

    194 for 6. When you could queue for a drink at the bar confident that you weren't going to miss anything!

    Rob P

  10. Get Involved - Zaltzman's daily quiz

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    B - 194-6

    Richard in London

    I reckon it’s B - 194-6.

    Paul in Winchester

  11. 'A battle' to get Anderson in greatest Ashes XI?

    The Tailenders picked their greatest Ashes XI from the last 20 years...

    ...but does Jimmy Anderson make it into the side?

    Ashes: Does Anderson make Tailenders' greatest Ashes XI?

  12. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    My wife went into labour at 10 o'clock last night, currently in the hospital wondering if we have a chance of claiming the title of first Ashes baby of the summer...

    Peter (nervous/excited for several reasons) in Tunbridge Wells

  13. Has McGrath predicted 5-0? Pundits’ Ashes verdicts

    Alastair Cook and Glenn McGrath graphicBBC Sport

    Once you've done your own Ashes predictions, have a look at what our pundits think.

    Is it a classic 5-0 from Glenn McGrath?

    Read here to find out.

  14. Most runs, wickets, sixes – make your Ashes predictions

    It's about time to make some predictions, I reckon.

    Joe Root and Steve Smith might well feature quite heavily...

    Make your predictions here.

    Joe Root and Steve Smith stats graphicBBC Sport

  15. Smith v Root, two batting titans but who is better?

    Joe Root and Steve Smith graphicBBC Sport

    Two of the best Test batters of their generation are about to face each other again in the Ashes, writes Jack Skelton.

    But who will go down as the greater Test batter? And what do the numbers say?

    Read more here.

    Root and Smith Ashes graphicBBC Sport
    Root and smith career graphicBBC Sport

  16. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    Never been this excited to be doing nothing at work!!

    Aaron in Manchester

    Stuck in a hospital bed for the 2nd summer running. At least I have my radio and the wonderful TMS crew to get me through the Ashes. Come on England!

    Anon

    I try to go through life being neighbourly and collegiate and kind. But I’ll admit I’m mainly here to see Warner lose his wicket. It just brings my a very specific kind of joy.

    Stef in Lewisham

  17. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Edgbaston

    Here’s where the TMS magic will happen…

    TMS box

  19. Get Involved - Zaltzman's daily quiz

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    I'll go for answer B - 194 for 6

    Anon (please leave your name on texts!)

    220-5 is my well-honed guess.

    Bill Bevan

  20. Get Involved - Zaltzman's daily quiz

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    Timmo: B - 194-6. Slow paced but a few wickets to fall.

    AerospaceMango: I'm going with 194-6 during the swinging 60's... Not so much swinging, as blocking!