England win di toss and will bowl.

ABE😀

@Chrissy

Australia (Playing XI):

Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Scott Boland

England (Playing XI):

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue

Team News - Having played his part in retaining the Ashes in Adelaide, skipper Pat Cummins will miss the remainder of the series with back rehabilitation. One look at the pitch and stand-in captain (once again) Steve Smith declared an all-pace attack with Brendan Doggett / Michel Neser taking the 4th pacers slot. England have already announced their playing XI and have made two changes. Gus Atkinson is back to replace Jofra Archer while Jacob Bethell gets to play his first ever Ashes Test after the selectors finally lost confidence in Ollie Pope.  

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Conditions at the 'G' - In 2021-22, the conditions were so bowler friendly that the match was done and dusted within 7 sessions. Scott Boland was the wrecker-in-chief in that match and he'd be relishing the conditions on offer today at the 'G' - there's 10mm of grass left on the surface and it should offer plenty to the pacers. Another short encounter at the 'G?

@Narper

Merry Christmas

tired of FLOW and this recent crap. All now feed not up

Finally

@Chrissy

Merry Christmas to you too

Gawn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6.1

Atkinson to Head, out Bowled!! Chopped on! England needed early wickets aftyer asking Australia to bat and Atkinson has struck early - short of a good length and angling across the left-hander, a static Head went chaisng after it on the back-foot drive, his feet hardly moved and the thick inside edge crashes back into his stumps

Head b Atkinson 12(22) [4s-2]

Gawn clataaax

Head b Atkinson 12

27/1

Day 1: 1st Session

AUS 30 /1 (7) CRR:4.29

Jake Weatherald 10(1

Marnus Labuschagne 3(3)

Gus Atkinson 4-1-7-1

@Chrissy

100000 in the ground

Jacob Bethell gets to play his first ever Ashes Test

Will be good is he makes a ton

9.2

Tongue to Jake Weatherald, out Caught by Jamie Smith!! Has Weatherald been strangled down leg? Yes, up goes umpire Kumar Dharmasena's finger andhe's happy to walk off - Australia have lost both openers now. He'll feel very unlucky to be dismissed in this fashion, but England will not care one bit - full and the angle takes it down leg, Weatherald shuffled across on the flick and gets a thin inside edge, goes to the right of the keeper and Jamie Smith dives to pouch it with glee

Jake Weatherald c Jamie Smith b Tongue 10(23) [4s-1]

Gawn

weatherall ct Smith b Tongue 10

31/2

Steven Smith, right handed bat, comes to the crease

AUS 31 /2 (9.2) CRR:3.26

11.5

Tongue to Labuschagne, out Caught by Root!! This time the edge flies straight down 1st slips throat and Root doesn't drop those - 

Labuschagne c Root b Tongue 6(19)

@Narper

Gawn

Labuschagne ct Root b Tongue 6

34/3

13.4

4

Tongue to Smith, FOUR, cracking shot, tad too full and Smith doesn't miss out - leans into the drive, opens the face of the bat and then punches it into the gap wide of mid-off, that'll set him up nicely going forward