The Aussies have wasted no time in getting out onto the pitch and the word from Edgbaston is that Scott Boland is currently marking out his run up...

So if Boland is in, who misses out? Josh Hazlewood? Mitchell Starc? We'll find out at the toss in a little under an hour.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

The Australians have arrived.

There are boos for David Warner plus a shout of “Broady’s gonna get ya!”.

More jeers for Steve Smith and one or two cries of “cheat”.

Our friends in BBC Bitesize have been caught up in Ashes fever too. They've produced these handy guides for those who haven't fallen in love with the sport of cricket yet. (But after this summer we hope they will.)

From Tests to The Hundred: A bluffer’s guide to cricket’s formats

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zm6xm39

The origins of cricket jargon

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z683qp3

BBC Sport has joined up with The Grade Cricketer for this Ashes series. If you don't know them, Sam Perry and Ian Higgins are by their own definition two former Sydney grade cricketers who have a satirical take on cricket across the globe.

Here's their opening opinion of Bazball, which is well worth a watch...

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

Overheard at Edgbaston:

"No slouching, smiles on faces."

It's a big day for those working in the Edgbaston hospitality too.

Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Ben Stokes looks born to lead. He was always a leader in the dressing room, people followed him just because of his personality. But the way he has captained, the way he has influenced games tactically as well has been brilliant.

England have struggled to take 20 wickets away from home and on flat wickets. Under his leadership, they have taken 20 wickets every time.

This England team have also done away with tradition - that's how you segue, folks (sorry) - and Ben Stokes has told his team that they can be 'rockstars'!

The England skipper also spoke to Isa Guha in the build-up to this first Test about his captaincy, team culture and the challenge of Australia.

Traditionally, the start of a big Test series in England means any good weather that has come before quickly makes way for rain.

Thankfully that is not the case today! As you can see in Matt's picture below, it is clear blue skies at Edgbaston and it is set to remain that way throughout the day.

A reminder of today's quiz question from Andy Zaltzman: Since Stokes and McCullum took over, England have scored their runs at 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 we will round up to 389 all out.

Cricket has not always been this fast paced. In Ashes cricket during the supposedly swinging 1960s, what was the average score in 80 overs of play?

And now to help you out, a few multiple choice options...

A: 167-9

B: 194-6

C: 220-5

D: 251-7

E: 273-8

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

Good morning from Edgbaston. It is, finally, here.

I've spotted three former England captains already, each doing their early TV duties.

The singer who will perform the national anthems before play is going through her practices.

In The Australian, Gideon Haigh writes about England's Bazball approach - "new and exciting but meretricious and ­ultimately unsound" and there is a lovely Succession reference...

"When your top three are David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, it is tempting to regard Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope as Logan Roy did his offspring – “not serious people”."

Good line but perhaps one for the England top-order to pin on the dressing room wall...?

A bit more paper talk now, this time from Australia and The Age.

Ex-Australia skipper Tim Paine has had his say - I know, I was shocked as well - and believes Bazball will come apart at the seams against the tourists' pace attack.

"I still think if the Aussies get it right and play their best cricket, I think it [Bazball] can come unstuck pretty quickly for England," Paine said.

"So there's some guys there that, yeah, they've had a good 12 months, but the Ashes intensity and the scrutiny goes up one hundred per cent. It only takes a nick or a couple of lbws and I think some of those guys might start doubting themselves again."

Image source, Getty Images

Do you think you've got the answer to today's quiz question? Looks a fairly straightforward one to me...

Then again, I do have the answer.

Let us know using #bbccricket on Twitter, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) - we'll give a shout out to the first people with the correct answer before the start of play!

Andy Zaltzman
Test Match Special cricket statistician

Since Stokes and McCullum took over, England have scored their runs at 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 we will round up to 389 all out.

Cricket has not always been this fast paced. In Ashes cricket during the supposedly swinging 1960s, what was the average score in 80 overs of play?

Right, it's quiz time now. Every day during these Ashes series, men's and women's, TMS stats man Andy Zaltzman will be posing a question for you fine people to answer.

Get your answers in quickly, get it right and you might even get a shout out on this very page. A real honour, I'm sure you'll agree.

So without further ado. The first question is...

Australia might be the world Test champions but 'Bazball rules the world' declares the i, as it focuses on Ben Stokes' comments that this England team can beat anyone.

"If we play to the capabilities we know we’re capable of then I know we are able to beat any team," Stokes said.

Meanwhile, the Express go with 'Fever Pitch' with a raucous atmosphere expected at Edgbaston today.

Image source, i Sport

Image source, Daily Express