Bouchier lets seamer Waheeda Akhtar's opening delivery slide through to the keeper - a watchful start.

England openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt are following the Pakistan side out onto the pitch.

The ground is bathed in sunshine, but it looks like there's a bit of a breeze.

Image source, Getty Images

Katherine Sciver-Brunt
Ex-England bowler on BBC Two

I am looking forward to seeing what Maia Bouchier can do today.

England captain Heather Knight on BBC Two: "I was going to have a bat so reasonably happy. It looks a decent surface.

"Freya Kemp is a hugely talented player. I am expected to see what she does. I expect to see some fireworks."

Ffion Wynne
BBC Sport cricket writer at Edgbaston

It'll be interesting to see Pakistan's approach with the ball.

If they've done their research, they'll just keep bombarding England with spin because their struggles against slow bowling are well documented - it was a huge part of their shock series defeat by Sri Lanka at the end of last summer.

With the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh expected to favour spinners, this series presents a big chance for England to put that right and prove that they have learned.

Before we get going, let's touch on some momentous news in the men's game.

England legend James Anderson is to retire from international cricket after one last appearance at Lord's in July.

The BBC punditry team of Isa Guha, Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Ebony Rainford-Brent are currently paying tribute, and I'm sure we'll see plenty of celebration of his career roll into our inbox today and over the next couple of months.

Ffion Wynne
BBC Sport cricket writer at Edgbaston

Amy Jones has been presented with a cap for her 100th T20, while Nat Sciver-Brunt was involved in the warm-up.

That's a good sign for England, as she will most likely be available for the second match in Northampton next week.

England Amy Jones celebrates her hundredth T20 cap today, and gets to reach the landmark at her home ground.

The Solihull-born wicketkeeper-batter endured a bit of a dry spell in the first half of the spring New Zealand series, but finished in style with scores of 92*, 48 and 50 in the last three ODIs.

We've got you covered from every angle today - you can watch the match live on BBC Two from 14:15 BST, or stream it from the top of the page.

Or if you absolutely must head outside, stick some headphones in and follow with commentary on 5 Sports Extra, also at the top of the page or on the BBC Sounds app.

Heather Knight's side enjoyed a largely positive winter - a pre-Christmas trip to India brought a 2-1 T20 series victory, although they lost heavily to the hosts in the one-off Test.

In March and April they travelled to New Zealand, following up a 4-1 T20 series win with a 2-1 triumph in the ODIs.

England XI: Wyatt, Bouchier, Knight (capt), Capsey, Knight Kemp, Jones (wk), Gibson, Dean, Ecclestone, Glenn, Bell.

Pakistan: XI: Dar (capt), Amin, Feroza, Shamas, Muneeba (wk), Parvaiz, Fatima, Hassan, Shamim, Akhtar, Iqbal.

The captains are out in the middle at Edgbaston.

Pakistan's Nida Dar has won the toss and has decided her team will have a bowl.

The big news ahead of today's fixture at Edgbaston is still England's star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt will miss this match after undergoing a minor medical procedure.

Heather Knight still has a lot of firepower to call upon, although Sophia Dunkley has been dropped after enduring a poor run of form.

Young seamer Mahika Gaur is also absent - rather than charging towards the crease she'll be sat quietly in a sports hall as she completes her A-Levels.

England T20 squad: Heather Knight (capt; Western Storm), Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers), Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers), Alice Capsey (South East Stars), Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers), Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder), Lauren Filer (Western Storm), Danielle Gibson (Western Storm), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds), Amy Jones (Central Sparks), Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers), Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers).

Yes, England's march towards the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup begins today as they embark on this three-match series against Pakistan in the shortest format.

Eight more T20s feature in subsequent series against Sri Lanka and Ireland, while Heather Knight's charges will also be taking on a good number of ODIs in those campaigns.

Then it's off to Bangladesh in October for the World Cup.

Take a look outside.

The UK is bathed in sunshine, the trees in leaf and the birds in song. After the long slog of winter and a wet spring, we can finally venture out into great outdoors.

Done that?

Right, enough of that - close the curtains and hunker down with us. It's the start of the international summer, the first T20 international between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston marks the start of a scintillating few months of cricket.

You won't want to miss it.