2019 The Ashes Series England Vs Australia First Test @ Edgbaston Thursday Aug 01 -05,2019

 

England's bid to regain the Ashes from Australia begins with the first Test at Edgbaston on Thursday.

England won the 2019 CWC just over two weeks ago, but were beaten 4-0 on their tour down under in 2017-18.

England have not lost a home Ashes series since 2001 and have not lost at Edgbaston to any side in 11 years.

For Australia, Thursday sees them return to the ground where they were heavily defeated by England in the 2019 CWC SF's

Edgbaston is famous for its partisan support of the home team, but Paine claimed he could name 15 more intimidating venues in world cricket.

As well as being a battle for cricket's oldest prize, the next five Tests mark the start of the World Test Championship - a new, two-year, competition introduced by the International Cricket Council in the hope that it will give more context to Test cricket.

In a league of nine teams - India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh also feature - each side plays six series, three home and three away over the course of the next two years.

Points are awarded for the results of every Test, with the top two meeting in a final in the UK in 2021.

The points earned for a win depends on the length of the series, with the maximum number on offer in each series, 120, divided by the number of Tests. In this five-match series, each win is worth 24 points.

To coincide with the beginning of the Championship, names and numbers will feature on the back of players' shirts for the first time in Test cricket.

In another first, concussion substitutes are also being introduced, having being trialled in domestic games in England and Australia. If a player is injured, he must be replaced like-for-like - so a batsman cannot be switched for a fast bowler.

This series is the last of England coach Trevor Bayliss' reign. The Australian has opted to leave his post when his contract expires at the end of the summer

About the Ashes Series

It is the 71st Ashes series, the oldest rivalry cricket that takes place between England and Australia. The two countries take it in turns to host a five-Test series, normally every couple of years, with the winner keeping hold of the Ashes urn. The first series took place in 1882-83, with the most recent in Australia in the winter of 2017-18

Schedule

• First Test - August 1-5 (Edgbaston)
• Second Test - August 14-18 (Lord's)
• Third Test - August 22-26 (Headingley)
• Fourth Test - September 4-8 (Old Trafford)
• Fifth Test - September 12-16 (The Oval)

 Squads

Day One Thursday Aug 01,2019

This was also the start of the World Test Championship. Players from both sides sported numbers and names on the back of their tshirts

Steve Smith stared down a depleted England attack and a hostile Edgbaston crowd as his superb century single-handedly rescued Australia on the opening day of the 2019 Ashes.

The first Test would have kicked off with England seemingly well in the box seat had Smith not hit a brilliant 144, more than half of his team's 284 all out and a distant dream after they limped to 122/8

Sixteen months after watching their careers collapse in disgrace following the sandpaper scandal Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all returned to boos, jeers and brickbats from the notoriously raucous Birmingham crowd, but while the latter pair faltered Smith flourished

England had one hand tied behind their back from the moment record wicket-taker James Anderson was struck down by a right calf injury that restricted him to one four-over spell, and he faces an uncertain future in the match and the series

But in his absence Stuart Broad stood tall, claiming five for 86 to reach 100 Ashes scalps, while Chris Woakes added three for 58

Both hauls would have been prettier still had Smith not coaxed stands worth 162 out of tailenders Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon

Peter Siddle gave Smith good company in a massive eighth-wicket stand, scoring 44 off 85 balls

Joy, relief and bloodymindedness were etched across Smith's face as he celebrated his 24th Test hundred, and a ninth against England, before he cut loose late in the day to punish a tiring attack

After he was finally toppled by Broad, Rory Burns and Jason Roy were left to face two awkward overs at the close but held their nerve to reach 10 without loss

Scorecard
Australia 284/10 in 80.4 Overs
Steve Smith 144(219 Balls 4x16 and 6x2) - 24th Test Ton in 118 Innings second best to Don Bradman's 66 Innings
Trevor Head 35(61 Balls 4x5)
Peter Siddle  44(85Balls 4x4)

England    10/0 in 2 Overs
Rory Burns 04*
Jason Roy   06*


Day Two Friday Aug 02,2019

The second day running the opening Ashes Test witnessed a hugely significant hundred as Rory Burns showed tremendous resilience to score his first for England.

Rory Burns finished unbeaten on 125, forming a substantial partnership with Joe Root of 132 and another steadying stand with Ben Stokes, which carried England to 267/4 and within sight of what could be a critical lead

Nothing encapsulated the struggle and the grind better than Rory Burns' maiden Test hundred. It was an innings of discipline and restraint. This was not aggressive, dynamic, run-a-ball stuff. It wasn't an innings you would particularly want to watch again. But it was a 282 ball stay built on accumulation and defence, concentration and doggedness. He faced the first ball and the last ball. It wasn't exhilarating but it was effective. Burns simply wasn't going to be rushed. He spent 18 deliveries on 92 and then nine more on 99.

Rory Burns - First England opener apart from Alastair Cook to bat out a full day in a home Test since Joe Root against Australia at Lord's in 2013.

Scorecard
England    267/4 in 90 Overs
Rory Burns    125*(282 Balls 4x16)
Joe Root          57(119 Balls 4x6)
Ben Stokes      38*(71 Balls 4x6)