THE ASHES series is finally here as England and Australia do battle!
All eyes are on the Gabba tonight as the First Test of the series kicks off.
Though star bowler Jimmy Anderson will play no part for England, after pulling out with a calf injury.
Anderson, 39, will be kept on ice for at least the day-night second Test at Adelaide on December 16.
He is at his most dangerous using a pink ball under floodlights so England do not consider his absence a disaster.
Ollie Pope is preferred to Jonny Bairstow in the 12-man squad while spinner Jack Leach is included as is Ben Stokes.
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Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
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ENGLAND 20-3 (HAMEED 12, STOKES 1)
Cummins comes in round the wicket to Stokes, and there were some tight leaves in there for the England all-rounder.
It’s a maiden over, another good one from the Aussie captain. He’s bowled four overs now.
I wonder when we’ll see Lyon bowl. We might see the fourth seamer Green before him.
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ENGLAND 20-3 (HAMEED 12, STOKES 1)
Here comes Starc back into the attack to replace Hazlewood.
Good captaincy from Cummins again, knowing that Starc has a decent record against Stokes.
Starc pitches up again and Hameed chases one – he gets an EDGE from a mighty cover drive but it flies harmlessly over the slips for four.
10 overs gone. Fair to say it’s been Australia’s 10 overs.
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ENGLAND 16-3 (HAMEED 8, STOKES 1)
Really good from the Australian captain Cummins.
His length to Stokes is right on the money and the ball is moving around out there in overcast conditions.
Stokes is batting out his crease and trying to use his feet. He played a nice punch off the final ball that was cut off by mid off.
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ENGLAND 15-3 (HAMEED 7, STOKES 1)
Stokes is underway with a single, so relief for England in that there won’t be another duck to follow Burns and Root.
Very good from Hazlewood again, just that single and a leg bye from his over.
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ENGLAND 13-3 (HAMEED 7, STOKES 0)
Without putting the mockers on him, Hameed has been everything England wanted from an opener so far.
He’s looked unflustered, been watchful and played late, all while watching the carnage unfold at the other end.
Two runs from that Cummins over from a punch into the covers.
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ENGLAND 11-3 (HAMEED 5, STOKES 0)
Ben Stokes is out in the middle just 33 minutes into the first morning.
He’s back after a long period away and England need him at his brilliant best right now.
Two wickets for Hazlewood. A cracking start from him. A cracking start for Australia.
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WICKET: ROOT C WARNER B HAZLEWOOD 0
Oh no! Root has gone for a duck. What a nightmare for England.
Beautiful delivery from Hazlewood drags Root forward and gets a healthy edge to Warner at first slip.
England 11-3.
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ENGLAND 11-2 (HAMEED 5, ROOT 0)
A bowling change already as Cummins comes on for Starc – so just a two-over spell for Mitch.
Cummins has a pretty good record against Root and the captain has wasted no time in getting himself into the game.
Hameed is on strike for the whole, over, though. And he carefully plays out a maiden.
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ENGLAND 11-2 (HAMEED 5, ROOT 0)
Joe Root is already in the middle just 19 minutes into the Ashes series.
We knew he was going to be crucial for England’s chances and here he is already.
Hazlewood and Starc have both struck early to rather average deliveries. There was movement for Malan’s wicket but it bounced well over the stumps and could’ve been left alone.
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WICKET! MALAN C CAREY B HAZLEWOOD 6
Edged and gone! Malan nicks off to the wicketkeeper and England are 2 down inside 20 minutes.
It was short from Hazlewood and could’ve been left, but Malan played and it came off the shoulder of the bat and popped up nicely.
England 11-2 and Root is in the middle already.
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ENGLAND 11-1 (HAMEED 5, MALAN 6)
Hameed very watchful to Starc outside off stump – and then he gets one a bit straighter which he punches down the ground confidently for a boundary.
Starc is very full, giving it every chance to swing, but that was a half volley and put away nicely.
In the stands, I heard a trumpet and some England chants. That’s good to hear.
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ENGLAND 7-1 (HAMEED 1, MALAN 6)
Hazlewood opens the bowling from the other end and Hameed takes strike for the first time having watched the first over carnage from the other end.
He’s a bit short to start with and Hameed gets off the mark by turning one off his body for a single to square leg.
A quieter over – settle down, everyone.
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ENGLAND 6-1 (HAMEED 0, MALAN 6)
The perfect start for Australia having lost the toss.
Dawid Malan is in at No 3 and gets off the mark with a guide down to third man for four.
There is swing for Starc but that was a really poor dismissal for Burns. Bowled behind his legs.
A dramatic first over comes to an end.
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WICKET! BURNS B STARC 0
BOWLED HIM FIRST BALL!
What a start for Australia.
A massive inswinger which looked like an attempt at a yorker has clean bowled Burns behind his legs.
A nightmare start. Burns got a leg stump half volley and fell over himself.
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TIME FOR PLAY
Burns and Hameed stride to the middle while Starc marks out his run up for Australia.
This ball is expected to swing and Australia’s pace attack is fearsome.
Big challenge ahead for England – here we go!
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CHILLS
A huge roar from what looks like a full house at The Gabba after the anthems.
Plenty of England fans in attendance despite problems getting there due to travel restrictions.
It’s almost time for the talking to end. We’re moments away.
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ANTHEM TIME
The players and umpires are on the field in front of the flags of both nations.
A huge roar greets Pat Cummins’ side and Joe Root’s men as they enter the arena.
It’s time for the national anthems.
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HOURS OF PLAY
Right then, night owls. Here’s the playing hours tonight.
Morning session: 12am-2am
Lunch: 2am-2.40am
Afternoon session: 2.40am-4.40am
Tea: 4.40am-5am
Evening session: 5am-7am
Close of play scheduled for 7am, but can (and probably will) go on until 7.30am to complete overs.
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PITCH AND WEATHER
It’s a bit muggy in Brisbane and there’s a good chance of rain at some point.
The pitch looks a bit green, Joe Root said he thinks it’s quite soft underneath and will quicken up.
Here’s the latest forecast from BBC:
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STOKES THE FIRE
What a boost it is for England to have Ben Stokes back after his break from the game.
If he’s fit and firing on all cylinders then he’s going to be a key factor in this series.
All the noises from the camp in the build-up have been positive so let’s hope that’s a good sign.
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CAPTAIN’S SPEECH
Joe Root on dropping Stuart Broad: “We’re blessed with a very good seam attack and squad out here and it was a very difficult decision to make. We have five Tests here and all the guys will be ready to go when called upon.”
Aussie captain Pat Cummins: “We were probably going to have a bat but there’s not a lot in – it it’s probably 50-50. There will be a bit in it for us.”
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AUSTRALIA SIDE
A new captain in Pat Cummins and a debutant behind the stumps in Alex Carey.
Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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ENGLAND TEAM
Woakes, Robinson and Wood are England’s pace attack…
England: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Jack Leach.
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TOSS NEWS
England have won the toss and elected to bat first.
Stuart Broad is out. Jack Leach plays.
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SCHEDULE
The toss is a few minutes away but for those that want to plan their winter around watching cricket in the small hours, here’s the full series schedule.
The fifth Test will not be played in Perth due to Covid quarantine restrictions in Western Australia with a new venue to be announced soon.
- First Test – Brisbane – today
- Second Test – Adelaide – Thur 16 Dec, 4am
- Third Test – Melbourne – Christmas Day, 11.30pm
- Fourth Test – Sydney – Tue 4 Jan, 11.30pm
- Fifth Test – TBC – Fri 14 Jan