Steve Smith (left) and Joe Root clutched at the Ashes urn they will be competing for
The captains also carried a large glass replica trophy onto the pitch at the Gabba
Australia have not lost a Test match at the Gabba since 1988, with England not winning there since 1986
England have claimed the Ashes in four of the past five series between the two nations, leaving 2013-14 in Australia as the exception
Four Australian players - Smith, Warner, Lyon, Hazlewood, Marsh and Starc - remain from the team that lost to England in the previous series in 2015. England have six - Cook, Root, Bairstow, Moeen, Broad and Anderson
Two of the world's best batsmen will be in opposition when Australia's Steve Smith and England's Joe Root both lead their countries for the first time in an Ashes Test at Brisbane on Thursday.
Smith may be an unorthodox run-scorer but he is currently top of the Test batting rankings and Root, a more classical stylist, is second in that table
At 28, Smith is two years older than Root and the more experienced captain, having led Australia in 26 Tests, whereas Root has just come off his first home season as skipper. After series wins over South Africa and the West Indies, the Ashes is the Yorkshireman's first overseas tour at the helm.
Neither of the two captains is known for especially unusual tactics, while they've each shown it is possible to play aggressive cricket without resorting to over-the-top ‘sledging’, verbal abuse.
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