The Ashes 2023 | England chooses to bat first in first Test against Australia at Edgbaston

England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first against Pat Cummins-led Australia on Day One of the first Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston on June 16, 2023 in Birmingham, England.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

England won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia at Edgbaston on Friday (June 4) in the opening match of an eagerly awaited Ashes series that both teams hope will be a showcase for Test cricket.

England captain Ben Stokes chose to bat on what appears a good batting wicket in hot and sunny conditions. Australia captain Pat Cummins said he would have also batted.

Follow live updates

England, which had already named its lineup, has won 12 of its last 17 tests with its attacking and carefree “Bazball” approach under Stokes and coach Brendon (“Baz”) McCullum.

Pat Cummins of Australia and Ben Stokes of England poses for a photo with the The Ashes urn and series trophies prior to Day One of the first Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston on June 16, 2023 in Birmingham, England.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

Australia went for Josh Hazelwood at the expense of pacer Mitchell Starc. Seamer Scott Boland, who impressed recently against India, keeps his place in attack along with Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, who has taken 487 test wickets. Australia is set to give “Bazball” its toughest test yet.

Moeen Ali is playing his first Test match in nearly two years after an injury to England’s premier spinner Jack Leach. Edgbaston is Ali’s home ground with Warwickshire.

Australia has not won an Ashes series in England since 2001 but enters the game as the newly crowned World Test Champion after beating India on Sunday. It hammered England 4-0 in the last Ashes series in 2021-22, meaning the visitors only need to draw the best-of-five contest to keep cricket’s famed urn.

Australia’s lineup includes the top three-ranked Test batters in Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Travis Head.

Playing XIs:

England: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood.