Due to start at 11am today at Edgbaston on what is expected to be a seamers wicket and the conditions today look as though they will suit swing bowling so you would imagine that both captains would want to win the toss and field.

Should be a cracking series. Hope they have remembered to bring their sandpaper.

Batsmen in my day regularly sandpapered their bats, when did bowlers start doing it?

Can't wait! Was listening to Steve Harmison on TalkSport on the way in and he said he would think England would bat first if they win the toss so the pitch might be batter friendly if they can bat out the opening hour or so....As for the series....I can't split them but the bookies have England as slight favourites. I would probably lean towards the Aussies as it stands due to the top order uncertainty that we appear to have....fingers crossed for a good spectacle and more importantly for Joe Root to be lifting the urn at the end of it!

IDK about the pitch,but the forecast is for cloud and light rain throughout the day,ideal seam bowling conditions normally.

This could be a strange series,in that neither side fully trusts their batters,so both might feel more comfortable bowling first.

I'd have England as marginal favourites,purely due to being at home,but i can see some humdingers,could be a classic nail-bitter,ala 2005.

Come on England.

Got up early and cracked on with my daily chores so I could sit in front of the TV from 11.00 onwards.
Not much sunshine around for these 5 days it appears & a fair amount of humidity. With both teams being stronger in bowling than batting, looks unlikely to stretch anywhere near 5 days. (You never know though- a batter or two may hit unexpected form).

Big dilemma winning the toss, it may well be best to insert the opposition as batting will almost certainly be tough first couple of hours today and you are unlikely to be batting last on a day 5 turner.

Losing to Australia at cricket is a must for England to avoid (as per Scotland at footy, Wales at Rugby).

Hope to see a lot off digging in, over my dead body attitude. Value your wicket as Boycott would say

The series may well come down to Root, Buttler & Stokes v Smith & Warner.

I’d be tempted to back Smith & Warner as they will be in earlier in the innings with less pressure. It is very possible that Stokes could be coming in at 30-3 with England under a lot of pressure.

If Smith & Warner build a decent platform, the rest will be given confidence and are more likely to contribute. If, on the other hand we can nick them off cheaply I’d like to think we are likely run through them.

Hope i’m wrong but I am concerned about our batting.

Won't be many tests getting to the 5th day to in this series I reckon. I honestly think it's going to be nearly as good as 2005. But not necessarily due to there being a lot of skillful players.

Local cricketer wrote:Hope to see a lot off digging in, over my dead body attitude. Value your wicket as Boycott would say

You've got two hopes,no hope or Bob Hope,of the 2 sides Australia are probably better equipped to amass a score,Bancroft,Khawaja,and of course Smith,are all capable of batting for long periods,England apart from Root and perhaps Stokes,don't have anybody you'd put your mortgage on to bat more than a couple of sessions,if it's a low-scoring series as predicted,this may not matter though.

TheFamilyCat wrote:The series may well come down to Root, Buttler & Stokes v Smith & Warner.

I’d be tempted to back Smith & Warner as they will be in earlier in the innings with less pressure. It is very possible that Stokes could be coming in at 30-3 with England under a lot of pressure.
.

Good point re: Stokes.
Since his ban and return to the team he looks like one of our most patient, orthodox and determined batsmen. For this reason I have been proposing trying him at no. 3, where everyone else has failed.
Of course they haven't tried this over the past 12 months and it's bit late to experiment now.
30-3 sounds about right to me - unfortunately.

Oz win toss and bat.
Come on Jimmy 'n' Broad (and Woakes) - get in there.

Aussies win the toss & bat first.

Dry pitch by the look of it but cloudy - hopefully something in it for The Burnley Express.

Come on England

Was suprised they opted to bat tbh

Slightly surprising start to series.
No Starc or Hazelwood for Australia and they win toss and bat. It's positive move from them but I bet Roy, Burns etc are relieved not to be batting this morning.
Moeen included for England, which also surprises many.
Anderson to open bowling after someone smashed into his car on the car park!

Brave leaving Starc out I think. Crucial opening morning. Pitch does look a good one to bat on and I think Root would have batted too.

Snickometer says yes.

Warner caught behind 1st ball off Broad. Bairstow keen - Failed to review. Ultra edge showing a Nick off the bottom of Warner’s bat - hope we don’t regret it

Good accurate start from Jimmy & Broad - Swinging

Warner warned for a bit of skullduggery. The crowd love it.

Should have reviewed Warner think this is high

Goneeeeeeeeeeee

And Broad reviews one that was no way out.

claretonthecoast1882 wrote:Goneeeeeeeeeeee

Either you can see the future or my TMS is slightly delayed

Poor review that can only think because they failed to review the previous over that was out they reviewed this it didn’t look close even the umpires reaction. Only 1 review left now let’s hope the umpires get them right like that one get in it’s not come back to hurt us Warner just didn’t look comfy out there crowd giving him a send off as you would expect 2-1

wilks_bfc wrote:Either you can see the future or my TMS is slightly delayed

It was missing as well

Great start for England, Jimmy and Broad bowling well. All about reviews and non reviews so far.

Poor review.
But got one anyway.

Best thing is it was missing. For anyone not watching... we got a gift after....

Warner lbw out. It was only just hitting. He will have to take the rough with thw smooth. If you know what I mean.

claretonthecoast1882 wrote:It was missing as well

Yes it was.

wilks_bfc wrote:Either you can see the future or my TMS is slightly delayed

Gone 2 down

Broad edge to root Bancroft gone for 8 booooooos all around for the next man Steve Smith

Should be interesting battle now, with Smith versus Anderson, Broad and co.

Smith is the key man now. Test average of 61 and the ability to just about carry the Aussies on his own

Despite the history I really like SS - A brilliant cricketer

What a start

17-2

Great start for England.

Woakes for Anderson

Trouble is, England's top order is just as capable of being 2/3 down for about 20 runs as well.

See what the lunchtime score is, but opting to bat is looking an ever more odd choice.

There's probably an obvious answer to this question but why does Buttler keep wicket and Bairstow fields in the 50 over format, and vice versa in the tests format?

Question mark about our top order agreed but this is a very solid start. Root also able to use Jimmy sparingly as Woakes is in great form. Broad looking very impressive at the other end

Woakes get Kuwaja caught behind, again on review. Aussies three down.

Just need Smith now.
Then it'll be a grand morning's work.

35-3 Khawaja gone for 13,great start by England's bowlers,all on Steve Smith now,how many times have we said that in recent Ashes series.

The trouble with it being a noisy ground is the umpires can't here the nicks.

SSN saying Jimmy Anderson to have scan on his calf this afternoon, bad news for England in this test.

Vino blanco wrote:SSN saying Jimmy Anderson to have scan on his calf this afternoon, bad news for England in this test.

That's not good

Vino blanco wrote:SSN saying Jimmy Anderson to have scan on his calf this afternoon, bad news for England in this test.

Not good on the first morning.

Vino blanco wrote:SSN saying Jimmy Anderson to have scan on his calf this afternoon, bad news for England in this test.

He is on his way to hospital now to have it done.