England and Australia teams for First LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes Series match at Edgbaston and who will bat first

England and Australia go head to head today as the LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes series gets underway. The first of the five match series takes place at Edgbaston in Birmingham. 

England have won the toss and will bat first on a scorcher of a day in Birmingham. 

The all important team news has been announced, and the individual battles can start to be predicted. Both sides are brimming with talent and with players who know what it takes to win this prestigious series. 

England team 

England announced their team several days ago and there are no real surprises to the team. Moeen Ali goes straight back into the side following his retirement from Test cricket. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley will open the batting whilst Jonny Bairstow will have the wicket keeping gloves. 

• Ben Duckett

• Zak Crawley 

• Ollie Pope Joe Root 

• Harry Brook

• Ben Stokes ©

• Jonny Bairstow (wk)

• Moeen Ali 

• Stuart Broad

• Ollie Robinson

• James Anderson

Australia team

Australian captain Pat Cummings said earlier this week that he would only confirm his team at the coin toss. Now that we know who will be batting and bowling first, we know the 11 Australians who will take on England at Edgbaston. 

• David Warner
• Usman Khawaja,
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Steve Smith
• Travis Head
• Cameron Green
• Alex Carey (wk)
• Pat Cummins (c)
• Nathan Lyon
• Scott Boland
• Josh Hazlewood.