England vs Australia LIVE: Cricket scorecard and Ashes updates ...
Ben Stokes admits Broad's history with Warner played a part in his Ashes selection
Joe Root’s first Ashes century in eight years provided calm amid the storm as England and Australia traded blows in a high-octane opening day at the first Test.
Root’s masterful 118 not out, the 30th ton of his career but a first against the old enemy since 2015, provided the centrepiece on a day of fiercely competitive cricket and outstanding entertainment that bodes well for the summer ahead.
Ben Stokes pulled a rabbit from the hat when he waved Root in at 393-8 – the earliest declaration in Ashes history after just 78 overs of the match – but his hopes of sniping a late wicket did not materialise. The renewal of Stuart Broad’s personal duel with David Warner provided some late theatre, but Australia will resume on 14 without loss after surviving the challenge.
Follow the score and latest updates from Edgbaston below.
After months of talk, interviews, podcasts and articles, the most hotly-anticipated Ashes series for a generation got underway at 11am at Edgbaston.
There was no better setting, the Hollies Stand was just getting warmed up, the pitch looked dry and batting-friendly, and England had won the toss.
It lived up to every bit of Bazball-themed anticipation when under-pressure Zak Crawley creamed the first ball from Australian quick Pat Cummins to the boundary. If the first ball of an Ashes sets the tone for the rest of the summer... Either way, the Ashes had started.
Sonia Twigg’s report from Edgbaston on the opening day:
Luke Baker16 June 2023 19:08
An hour before the Ashes began, spectators thronged outside the Hollies Stand, writes Lawrence Ostlere. A man dressed as a banana walked by with a focused expression. Three butchers and a pig leaned against a fence lighting cigarettes. Elvis fumbled through his pockets for his ticket, as the Power Rangers walked purposefully towards the bar for an early settler.
The wait before the first Test is always stomach-churning, but this particular anticipation felt different. Everyone knew it, from the morning drinkers in fancy dress to the gently pinked men in shorts and Skechers; from the mustachioed Australians to the kids in floppy hats. England have recalibrated Test cricket’s dials since these teams last met, and so everyone had come ready to witness something – no one was quite sure exactly what, but it was definitely going to be something.
In many ways Edgbaston is England’s spiritual Ashes home. Headingley may remember the greatest innings, Lord’s may call upon richer history, but Edgbaston carries its own anarchic edge that perfectly fits this rebellious new England. The Hollies embodies that spirit: a tall single tier that wraps along the southern boundary, creating a wall of noise and some bespoke chirp for whichever Australian fielder is stationed near – here it was usually Nathan Lyon, who was serenaded with “You’re just a s**t Moeen Ali!” for most of the afternoon.
Read the rest of Lawrence’s take on an enthralling opening Ashes gambit here:
Luke Baker16 June 2023 18:46
Wow. No one, including the Australian team, saw that declaration coming, and it set up for a thrilling final 20 minutes to an entertaining day of Test cricket.
The Ashes is under way, the Hollies Stand was in full voice, and Joe Root scored a century as the sun shone at Birmingham, it was an ideal way to kick off the series.
England could have been more careful when it came to avoiding giving wickets away, but Root thrilled with flair, reverse-scooping Scott Boland for six, and ramping the Australian captain for a maximum all in the final session of the day.
Harry Brook’s bizarre ‘bowled’ dismissal via thigh pad and bat just added almost a note of humour into the day, which thrilled throughout.
There was something for everyone and the game is in the balance.
Sonia Twigg16 June 2023 18:37
Wow! What a day of Test cricket. Simply enthralling from start to finish. From Zak Crawley’s cover drive for four to open the day to Usman Khawaja’s block to finish it via Joe Root’s century and Harry Brook’s comical dismissal.
The context of the match is that England declared on 393-8 to have a bowl at Australia this evening but the tourists saw things out safely at 14-0 to trail by 379 runs.
They’ll bat on day two, hoping to make similarly good use of the friendly batting conditions after England thrived on day one at Edgbaston.
Luke Baker16 June 2023 18:37
Robinson continues for now. Khawaja watchful and forced to play at most balls - he stops Robinson during his run-up of the fourth delivery to slow things down and make sure this is the final over of the day.
The English seamer chucks in a late wide anyway, so that’s stumps. What an exhilarating opening day of Ashes action!
Luke Baker16 June 2023 18:32
Gorgeous cover drive from Warner races away for four - there aren’t many better sights in all of sport than a well-timed cover drive. That’s a hill I’m happy to die on.
Tidy over otherwise from Broad. Does Moeen Ali get an over before close?
Luke Baker16 June 2023 18:27
Running in from the other end is Ollie Robinson. Very rare that Jimmy Anderson doesn’t open the bowling... Especially in England.
A lovely delivery shaping away from Khawaja cuts him in half and goes through to Bairstow but the opener fashions a couple of twos from the over. A worry for Robinson as he trips on his follow-through towards the end of the over but no damage done.
Luke Baker16 June 2023 18:22
So, England get a few overs at Australia this evening before close. Can they get a breakthrough?
Stuart Broad, who has plenty of history with David Warner, gets first crack at the Aussie opener. There’s nerves for the Australian pair with some questionable running between the wickets but the final ball of the over is nicely driven for four through the off-side.
Luke Baker16 June 2023 18:17
England will lose about ten minutes in the changeover, which means there will probably be about four overs before the close.
Joe Root strides off with a wave of the bat to his adoring public - he ends unbeaten on 118 after a quite magnificent innings.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2023 18:04
England turn on the style: Joe Root slog sweeps to cow corner for a mighty six, and then reverse sweeps for a single; Ollie Robinson copies the shot to take four; and then Root pumps Lyon over long-on for six more.
And that would be why - Ben Stokes had obviously got the message out that a declaration was imminent and calls his batters in. ENGLAND DECLARE! They’ll have a crack at Australia’s top order tonight.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2023 18:02
