The Latest Breaking News from Ashes

Australia survived a tricky late spell after Root scored 118 not out and England declared when closing in on 400 on the opening day of the first Ashes Test

England 393-8dec, Australia 14-0 - Australia trail by 379 runs: Root made a stunning century before England’s bold declaration at Edgbaston

England declared at 393 for eight before Australia closed on 14 without loss.

As the only hush of the day descended at Edgbaston, the opener delivered good omens for England from the off

Drunk and sunbunt by the end, England fans revelled as they discovered how their team’s new-found attacking philosophy would play out in the heat of an Ashes

England and Australia players took to the field with black armbands on Friday for the first test of the 2023 men’s Ashes series.

Root was unbeaten on 66 and Jonny Bairstow on 33 not out as England reached 240 for five at tea.

There are many aspects of the Ashes rivalry in which Australia can lay claim to fair supremacy.

Umpiring at home over the past three years under the constant pressure put by the big Indian stars has helped Nitin Menon grow immensely as an ICC Elite Panel umpire, preparing him well for his much-awaited Ashes debut next month.

Over the past 12 months, Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and their gloriously free-spirited England team have taken cricket fans on an unexpected journey from the utterly abject to the thrillingly absurd. Over the next six weeks, they have the chance to drag the rest of the country along, too.

Crawley made 61 before falling to the last ball before lunch.