Ashes 2023, 1st Test Day 1 Live Score and UpdatesEngland lose Duckett early after opting to bat

DRINKS! England started their batting effort with a cracking boundary through covers from the bat of Zak Crawley and made their intent clear to the Australian bowlers. They did not miss out on scoring opportunities and were off to a brisk start on a surface that seemed to offer very little to pace bowlers. The comeback man Josh Hazlewood drew first blood dismissing Ben Duckett but the Ollie Pope kept the momentum intact as they have been scoring just above 5 runs per over in the first hour. Pat Cummins has looked to protect the boundaries which allowed the batters to rotate the strike with ease and he needs to rework his plans in this break.

12.6Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Another sublime drive by Zak Crawley! Scott Boland serves it slightly full, outside off, Zak Crawley is quick to get on the front foot. Times the drive through wide mid off for four more runs.

12.5Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, At the stumps, on a length, Ollie Pope flicks it off the pads to deep mid-wicket for another single.

12.4Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Goes a bit short and outside off, Zak Crawley stands tall and punches it to deep point for one.

12.3Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Moving away, outside off, on a good length, Zak Crawley shoulders arms and lets the ball go.

12.2Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Back of a length this time, around off, Ollie Pope dabs it off the back foot to deep backward point for a run.

12.1Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Shaping in, on a hard length, on middle, Ollie Pope gets cramped for room and wears it on the thigh pad.

11.6Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Short and turning in, on off and middle, Zak Crawley shapes to punch it on the off side. Gets an inside edge onto the thigh. Luckily for him, the ball does not trickle back onto the stumps.

11.5Nathan Lyon to Ollie Pope, Flighted again, on middle, Ollie Pope gets on the front foot and flicks it to deep square leg for another single.

11.4Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Full and turning in, on off, Zak Crawley turns this one to deep square leg and rotates the strike.

11.3Nathan Lyon to Ollie Pope, On middle and leg, Ollie Pope gets down and sweeps it down to fine leg for a single.

11.2Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Tossed up, again, on off, Zak Crawley knocks it down to long on for one more run.

11.1Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Floated up, on the pads, Zak Crawley uses his feet and drops it wide of short leg for a dot.

10.6Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Another one on a length, Zak Crawley frees his arms and drives it to deep point. Retains the strike with a single.

10.5Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Short and punished! Boland bowls slightly short and outside off, Zak Crawley gets the width he needs and punches it to the right of deep point for yet another boundary.

10.4Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Keeps it fuller again, around off, Ollie Pope steers it from the outer part of the bat to deep backward point. Wants the second run but has to settle for a singe. 50 comes up for England.

10.3Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Serves it touch fuller, on off, Ollie Pope shimmies down the track and goes for the drive. Does not time it well and is unable to beat cover.

10.2Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, On a length and outside off, Zak Crawley drives away from the body towards deep point for a run.

10.1Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Tailing in sharply, around off, Ollie Pope gets on the front foot and works it wide of mid on for a single.

9.6Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Classy shot! Gives the ball air once again and bowls it on off, Zak Crawley picks the length early and gets into a good position. Drives it through extra cover for yet another boundary.

9.5Nathan Lyon to Ollie Pope, Flighted this time, on middle and leg, Ollie Pope gets forward and turns it through backward square leg for a single.

9.4Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Full again and on off, Zak Crawley gets down and reverse sweeps it hard to deep backward point for one more run.

9.3Nathan Lyon to Ollie Pope, Floated up, on off, Ollie Pope reverse sweeps it to deep backward point for a single.

9.2Nathan Lyon to Ollie Pope, Angled across, on a short length, from ’round the wicket, Ollie Pope goes back and keeps it out.

9.1Nathan Lyon to Ollie Pope, Tosses the ball up, outside off, Ollie Pope drives it firmly but straight to wide mid off.

8.6Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Beauty! Goes a bit fuller this time, outside off, shaping away, Zak Crawley gets drawn forward in defense and gets beaten on the outside edge.

8.5Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Bowls it a touch short, outside off, Zak Crawley tries to punch it off the back foot but mishits it towards the leg side.

8.4Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Provides width outside off, on a length, Zak Crawley frees his arms and slaps it wide of deep point for a couple of runs.

8.3Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Bowls back of a length this time and outside off, Zak Crawley advances to work it on the leg side but cannot get it away.

8.2Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, On a good length, outside off, Zak Crawley pushes with a straight bat to mid off.

8.1Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Begins his spell on a hard length, nips back in, on off, Zak Crawley punches without much timing to mid off.

Scott Boland has been brought into the attack now.

7.6Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Lands it on a length, around off and middle, Ollie Pope rolls his wrists and clips it towards deep square leg for two runs more.

7.5Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Cut away with ease! Shortens his length and bowls it outside off, Ollie Pope waits on the back foot and cuts it late. Gets it wide of third man for a boundary.

7.4Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Moving away, outside off, fuller as well, Ollie Pope shoulders arms this time.

7.3Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, On a length and outside off, Ollie Pope dances down the track and whips it towards mid-wicket. Travis Head there dives to his left and denies a single.

7.2Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Bowls it outside off, a hint of inward movement, on a length, Ollie Pope is happy to let the ball pass.

7.1Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Shaping away, outside off, on a good length, Ollie Pope watchfully defends it off the front foot towards cover.

6.6Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Keeps it on a good length, outside off, Zak Crawley blocks it off the back foot to mid on.

6.5Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Serves it on a good length and outside off, Ollie Pope stays back and dabs it towards backward point for a single.

6.4Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Fuller and around off, Ollie Pope gets on the front foot and keeps it out.

6.3Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Back of a length and on off, Zak Crawley moves across in the crease to access the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto the front pad and collects a single on the leg side.

6.2Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Edged but safe! In the corridor of uncertainty, on off, Zak Crawley defends with soft hands and gets an outside edge. Luckily for him, the ball drops short of Steven Smith at second slip.

6.1Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Bowls it on a good length, angling in, on off, Zak Crawley gets beaten on the inside edge and wears it on thigh pad.

5.6Josh Hazlewood to Zak Crawley, Fuller and on middle and leg, Zak Crawley clips it nicely to deep square leg for one more run.

5.5Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Another one on a good length, outside off, Ollie Pope drops it in front of mid-wicket and takes a single.

5.4Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, A hint of tail in, on a good length, around off, Ollie Pope accounts for the inward movement and blocks it out to mid on.

5.3Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Serves it wide outside off, on a length, Ollie Pope leaves the ball alone.

5.2Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Keeps it on a good length, on off, Ollie Pope keeps it out on the off side.

5.1Josh Hazlewood to Zak Crawley, Shortish length and outside off, Zak Crawley moves across and whips it wide of deep square leg for a single.

4.6Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Goes full and outside off, Ollie Pope is solid in defence once again.

4.5Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Good running! Back of a length and on off and middle, Ollie Pope hangs back and turns this one in the vacant square leg region and comes back for the second run with ease.

4.4Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Fuller this time and on off, Zak Crawley gets on the front foot to defend. Gets it from the inner part of the bat towards mid-wicket for a run.

4.3Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Another one on a hard length, around off, Ollie Pope gets on top of the bounce and nudges it to deep square leg. Gets off the mark with a single.

4.2Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Honing in at the stumps, at 139 kph, Ollie Pope gets behind the line and pushes it to mid on.

4.1Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, On a hard length, just outside off, a hint of extra bounce, Zak Crawley drops this one with soft hands towards square leg for a single.

3.6Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Pitched up now, around off, Ollie Pope drives with a straight bat but straight to mid off. End of a successful over for Josh Hazlewood.

3.5Josh Hazlewood to Ollie Pope, Shaping in, in the channel outside off, on a good length, Ollie Pope watchfully leaves the ball alone.

Ollie Pope makes his way out to the middle at number 3

3.4Josh Hazlewood to Ben Duckett, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ben Duckett goes for the cut again and pays the price this time! Josh Hazlewood serves it outside off, on a good length, Ben Duckett looks to go square of the wicket once again and tries to cut the delivery from the crease. Gets an outside edge that goes low behind the wicket. Alex Carey is up to the task as he dives forward quickly and takes a good low catch. Josh Hazlewood draws first blood for Australia on his return to the side.

3.3Josh Hazlewood to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Streaky! On a length and just outside off, Ben Duckett goes for the cut but the ball was too close to cut. Gets an inside edge and the ball sneaks past the off stump for a boundary.

3.2Josh Hazlewood to Ben Duckett, Keeps it full and around off, Ben Duckett works it off the front foot but straight to mid-wicket.

3.1Josh Hazlewood to Ben Duckett, Comes from over the wicket and bowls it on a good length, on middle, Ben Duckett clips it a bit wide of mid-wicket. Zak Crawley wants a single but Duckett sends him back.

2.6Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Lands it on a back of a length, on middle and leg, Zak Crawley misses the flick and wears it on the thigh pad.

2.5Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Angling in, on a good length, outside off, Zak Crawley shoulders arms and leaves the ball alone.

2.4Pat Cummins to Ben Duckett, Shortish length, around leg, Ben Duckett shuffles in the crease and pulls it down to fine leg for a run.

2.3Pat Cummins to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Nicely timed! Strays onto the pads, on a length, Ben Duckett gets on his toes and turns it through square leg. Times it well and collects his first boundary.

2.2Pat Cummins to Ben Duckett, Back of a length and on middle, Ben Duckett gets inside the line and works it off his pads. Gets it wide of deep backward square leg and collects a couple of runs.

2.1Pat Cummins to Ben Duckett, Goes full this time from over the wicket and on off, Ben Duckett pushes with a straight bat towards the bowler. Cummins sticks out his right boot and makes a good stop.

1.6Josh Hazlewood to Ben Duckett, Tailing in, on middle, on a good length, Ben Duckett tucks it off his hips to fine leg and keeps the strike with a single.

1.5Josh Hazlewood to Zak Crawley, Serves it on a length and wide outside off, Zak Crawley gets forward and drives it to deep point for a single.

1.4Josh Hazlewood to Zak Crawley, On a good length this time, on off, Zak Crawley uses his feet and pats it back to the bowler.

1.3Josh Hazlewood to Zak Crawley, Brings his length back a bit and bowls it outside off, Zak Crawley is happy to let the ball go through to the keeper.

1.2Josh Hazlewood to Zak Crawley, Shaping in, just outside off, on a length, Zak Crawley takes a good stride forward and defends it to mid off.

1.1Josh Hazlewood to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Zak Crawley welcomes Josh Hazlewood with a boundary! Hazlewood starts with a loosener, on the pads, Zak Crawley brings his wrists into play and clips it through square leg for a boundary.

Josh Hazlewood will share the attack and bowl from the other end.

0.6Pat Cummins to Ben Duckett, Drifts on the pads on a full length, Ben Duckett clips it straight to mid-wicket.

0.5Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Pitched up, on off, Zak Crawley gets on the front foot and clips it to mid on for a single.

0.4Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, On a good length, around off, Zak Crawley dabs it a bit wide of gully and sets off for a single. Ben Duckett says no and sends him back.

0.3Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, In the channel outside off, touch fuller as well.. the ball keeps a bit low and Zak Crawley lets the ball pass.

0.2Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Another one outside off, on a good length, Zak Crawley shoulders arms and leaves the ball alone.

0.1Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Zak Crawley and England are underway straightaway! The ‘Bazball’ has arrived at Edgbaston! Cummins starts off on a length, outside off, a hint of away movement, Zak Crawley frees his arms and thrashes it through covers to open his account.

We are done with the prematch formalities as the umpires walk toward the center of the ground. The Australian players are in a huddle at the boundary line for a few last-minute instructions from Pat Cummins before taking their respective positions on the field. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will open the inning for England and will want to get a good partnership going here. Pat Cummins has the new ball in his hand and is ready to begin proceedings. Let’s play…

We are moments away from the start of the game but first, the two teams will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be the national anthem of Australia first followed by England’s national anthem.

Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, says that they would have batted first as well. Informs that Mitchell Starc makes way for Josh Hazlewood. Adds that it was a tough call but it is good to have Hazlewood come in. Mentions that it is a good problem to have and it is important to manage workloads. Reckons that the WTC final was a good preparation and they are eager now to go here.

Ben Stokes, the skipper of England, starts by informing that they will bat first. Adds that it looks like a good cricket wicket and feels that it is a good toss to win. Mentions that he feels proud of all the hype that has been around and it is a special moment for him and the team. On Moeen Ali, he says that it is great to have him back. Shares that it was an unfortunate injury to Jack Leach. Adds that Moeen Ali has produced unbelievable performances and they know what he can bring to the team.

Australia (Playing XI) – David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon.

England (Playing XI) – Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jonny Bairstow (WK), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.