Live: first Ashes Test, day one

Peter Siddle celebrates the wicket of Jonathan Trott at Trent Bridge. Source: Getty Images

Welcome to our live coverage of the first Ashes Test from Trent Bridge.

For all the best late mail, scroll further down this story for an excellent analysis from the Herald Sun's Jamie Tate.

Otherwise, stay tuned for all the latest scores, analysis, videos and reaction from social media.

Join us for live coverage of every moment of the Ashes series from the first ball tonight, including a live match centre with scores, stats, Hawkeye display of every delivery and video highlights throughout each session.

[View the story "Live: First Ashes Test, Day One" on Storify]

The first of 10 Ashes Tests to take place over the next six months kicks off tonight at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

If the series lives up to half the hype, we're in for a gripping contest.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

So what can we expect this evening?

TEAMS

BREAKING SELECTION: Australia all-rounder Steve Smith will make his Ashes debut, beating Dave Warner for Australia's No.6 spot.

Warner was heavily tipped to play in the opening Test at Trent Bridge despite not having played for a month after being stood down for behavioural reasons.

Smith adds an extra spin option for Darren Lehmann's side, with the pitch expected dry-out towards the back-end of the Test.

Fast bowlers Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson all rested from Australia's optional net session last night at which fellow quicks Ryan Harris, Jackson Bird and James Faulkner all took part.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

It was a sure sign Siddle will join Starc and Pattinson alongside Nathan Lyon tonight.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

England has one decision to make - Steven Finn or Tim Bresnan. Bresnan might win out for his ability to deliver reverse swing, especially considering talk of a very dry pitch.

Bresnan has taken four or more wickets in a Test five times - three of those have been at Trent Bridge.

PITCH

MICHAEL Clarke noted with surprise when he first saw the pitch last Sunday that it was ready to play on then.

Maybe it's a CEO's pitch. Maybe the Wednesday start has conspired to produce a batsman-friendly strip that's sure to last five days. When every day at the 16,000 capacity is a sellout, there's a lot of coin on the line for England cricket authorities.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Notably, the pitch has been under cover the past two days despite plenty of sunshine and no threat of rain. Is the curator worried about the pitch deteriorating too quickly?

Expect the captain who wins the toss tonight to bat without hesitation and a first-innings score of 400 will be the pass mark.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The past nine Tests have all been results, expect this to provide a winner, too. The team batting first has won six of those matches.

BIG THREAT

GRAEME Swann looms ever large.

He has a modest Test record at his home county ground, three wickets at 65 runs apiece, but with hot weather and an Australian batting line-up loaded with left-handers, he could be the decisive player come days three, four and five.

This bloke should really be playing for us. You have to love the attitude of a man who had this to say at a lead-up press conference: "Hopefully we can provide a lot of people with a lot of reasons to get very drunk ... If I wasn't playing in this series I would be standing in a pub come Thursday afternoon for six weeks solid cheering on England.''

THE PUNT

UNLESS nerves take hold of batsmen, this match could be a slow burn to start with before catching fire at the end.

Don't be surprised to see plenty of runs on the first three days, which would open up betting opportunities.

If you like either England ($1.95 at the TAB) or Australia ($3.50), don't take the odds offered pre-match, wait for something around $3 for England and/or $7 Australia inside the first two days.

When the pitch wears late in the game, those odds could bring gold. The draw is currently $3.75 and should stay tight in the first two or three days.

Shane Watson could hardly be in better touch and looks a strong option to be Australia's highest scorer in the first innings ($4.50 at the TAB).

Kevin Pietersen's Test average at Trent Bridge (465 runs @ 38.8) is better than any of his teammates at the venue. He's also $4.50 to score most first innings runs for England.

But the England group is a much more open market. Watson is by far the better value.

Australia's XI: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Michael Clarke (C), Phil Hughes, Steve Smith, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Live: first Ashes Test, day one

Dengan url

http://sportfoxer.blogspot.com/2013/07/live-first-ashes-test-day-one.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Live: first Ashes Test, day one

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Live: first Ashes Test, day one

sebagai sumbernya

Sport Foxer