England win toss, choose to bowl in first day-night Ashes test

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. England players stand together for the national anthems before the start of the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

ADELAIDE (Reuters) - England captain Joe Root won the toss and gambled on bowling first under ashen skies at the Adelaide Oval in the first day-night Ashes test against Australia on Saturday.

England, who handed a debut to seamer Craig Overton in place of Jake Ball in an otherwise unchanged side, will be hoping to take advantage of any ball movement as they look to get back on terms after a 10-wicket defeat in the series opener on Monday.

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. England captain Joe Root prepares to lead his players onto the field before the start of the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

"I think with the overhead conditions that are around in the course of today, a fresh wicket, the pink ball, will give us a great opportunity to take 10 wickets," Root said.

"Craig Overton comes in for Jake Ball. He's been impressive on the way he has done things and it's a great opportunity for him."

Root said all-rounder Moeen Ali had "come up well" despite concerns about an injured finger and would both bowl and bat in the match.

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. England captain Joe Root stands in dressing room tunnel as he prepares to lead his players onto the field before the start of the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

Australia captain Steve Smith said he would have sent his unchanged side into bat had he won the toss.

"It looks like a good wicket," he said. "A lot different to what we have seen before. The new ball might do a bit but hopefully we can cash in."

The Adelaide Oval, once a batsman's paradise, has become more and more bowler friendly since drop-in wickets were introduced five years ago.

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. England head coach Trevor Bayliss and team captain Joe Root talk before the start of the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

With the potential for the pink ball to swing under the lights, which would suit the bowling of England's pace spearheads James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the second test has long been identified as England's best hope for a victory.

England hold the Ashes after their 3-2 series victory on home soil in 2015.

Teams:

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. Australia's Cameron Bancroft is hit by a delivery from England's James Anderson during the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

Australia - Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

England - Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Craig Overton, James Anderson.

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. England's Stuart Broad shakes hands with a spectator after returning his hat during the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. England's James Anderson reacts during the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. Australia's David Warner rund off the ground as rain falls during the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 2, 2017. England captain Joe Root walks off the field with team mates as rain falls during the first day of the second Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray