England Cricket

So far, the 2015 Ashes series has been anything but predictable.

England drew first blood with a resounding win in Cardiff inside four days, only for Australia to bounce back in style and return the favour in the second Test at Lord's.

Now the teams move on to Edgbaston with the scores locked at 1-1 and no one quite knowing what to expect next. If you believe in momentum, Australia are the side that quite clearly has it now.

However, they have won just three of the 13 Ashes Tests played in Birmingham. Their last visit to the venue, which was also the third match of the series, finished in a weather-affected draw in 2009.

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. BST

Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham, England

Live stream and TV info: Sky Sports (UK), Nine Network (Australia), SKY Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), STAR Sport (India) and NowTV (UK streaming service).

Weather: There is the possibility of the odd shower on the opening day of the Test, per BBC Weather. However, the general outlook for the entire match is good, meaning the weather shouldn't ruin the contest.

Overview 

England reacted to the heavy defeat in the second Test by making a change to their top order.

Gary Ballance has lost his place in the side after scoring 134 runs in eight Test innings so far this summer. His replacement is his Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow, though the latter will not take over at three.

Instead, Ian Bell will be pushed up one spot, per BBC Sport. He has been struggling for runs himself: The right-hander has scored just 128 of them in his last 12 Test knocks.

The Warwickshire batsman told BBC Sport: "Whether you're batting three, four or five you've got to score hundreds and I'm looking forward to that challenge. I know that when I play at my best I'm a world-class cricketer."

While Bell is struggling, Bairstow has been in the form of his life. He has scored 980 in the County Championship for Yorkshire so far this summer at an average of 108.88.

The wicketkeeper-batsman's reward is a recall to bat at five in the order, meaning a first Test appearance since he featured in the series finale against Australia in Sydney in January 2014. However, he will not don the gloves—Jos Buttler continues behind the stumps for England.

Steven Finn and Adil Rashid were retained in a 13-man squad for the third Test having not featured at Cardiff or Lord's.

Australia's major concern is over their top order, too, albeit for different reasons.

Chris Rogers made 173 in the first innings of the second Test, but the left-handed opener was forced to retire on 49 not out when batting second time around due to dizziness.

The experienced batsman has been going through a series of medical checks to confirm his availability, and team-mate Mitchell Starc is confident Rogers will be fit to play, per Sky Sports: "He seems to have come through it pretty well. I haven't seen him since the net but all reports are that he is good to go."

Rogers, who was struck on the head on Day 2 at Lord's by a bouncer from James Anderson, missed the two-Test series in the West Indies with concussion after being hit in the nets while training in the Caribbean.

If he is not fit to play, Shaun Marsh is the obvious candidate to replace him. Opening the innings alongside David Warner, he scored a hundred in the tour match against Derbyshire last week.

Captain Michael Clarke also enjoyed some time in the middle at Derby, making 44 not out on Day 3 of the fixture.

However, the seam trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, along with first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon, were all rested for the contest following their efforts in back-to-back Tests.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin played against Derbyshire as a batsman only after missing the last Test for personal reasons, per the Guardian.

Peter Nevill took over behind the stumps at Lord's, picking up seven catches and also scoring 45 in his side's huge first innings total of 566 for eight declared. Peter Lalor of the Australian reported that Nevill will keep his place in the Test XI, despite Haddin being available for selection.

The pitch, prepared by groundsman Gary Barwell, will be scrutinised with greater intensity than usual.

So far, Cardiff and Lord's provided slow, low surfaces, but the policy of trying to nullify Australia's pace attack backfired in the second Test. 

Paul Newman of the Mail wrote how Barwell had borrowed lamps normally used for the cultivation of cannabis from West Midlands Police to help dry out a square that has been sodden by the recent band of wet weather that has rolled across Britain. 

Key players

England

Ian Bell has scored 22 Test hundreds in his distinguished career, but right now he could do with some home comforts.

The third Ashes Test would be the ideal time for him to find some form in his own back yard. The selectors have backed him, but their faith is not everlasting. Bell needs runs to justify his continued presence in the side.

Australia

Despite a benign track at Lord's, Mitchell Johnson was still able to rough up England's batsmen in the second Test. That is a worrying sign for the hosts, who will remember all too well how the bowler terrorised them in the last Ashes series, played on Australian soil.

After a below-par start in Cardiff, Johnson was firing on all cylinders in the second Test. He bowled with not just great pace but also impressive accuracy. 

Squads

England

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood

Australia

Michael Clarke (captain), Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wicketkeeper), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson

All statistics used in the article, unless otherwise stated, are from ESPN Cricinfo

After the resounding defeat to Australia in the second Ashes Test, England are facing a dilemma over whether to stick or twist with their team. 

The bowlers will get a reprieve due to the benign nature of the surface at Lord’s, London, even though the tourists managed to pick up 20 wickets on it inside four days. 

But, it is the batting that is England's major area of concern. 

Like a hard-boiled egg, the top is getting knocked off very quickly, exposing the goodness in the middle. That is ideal when it comes to eating breakfast, but it’s not what you want to happen consistently in Test cricket.

England had 29 runs on the scoreboard when they lost their third wicket in the first innings at Lord's. They managed to do slightly better second time around, getting to 42 before Gary Ballance was caught behind.

This is not a new problem: In seven Tests in 2015, they have only passed three figures by the time the third wicket has fallen on two occasions.

However, it must be remembered that the scoreline in this year’s Ashes is still just 1-1.

The loss at Lord’s has quickly buried the memory of England’s triumph in the series opener in Cardiff. There, on another slow, low surface, the hosts were the side who won with a day to spare.

The third match of the series, at Edgbaston in Birmingham, does not start until July 29.

While Australia travel to Derby to play a tour match, England’s selectors must work out the best way forward.

Here are the options they will consider when trying to solve the current top-order malaise.

Make changes

The knee-jerk reaction to a heavy defeat is to point the finger of blame. England’s batsmen are rightly in the firing line, and heads could roll.

The issue is, though, it is tough to figure out who stays and who goes.

Adam Lyth was the last man in, but could he be the first one out? The Yorkshire opener has managed 50 runs in four innings so far against Australia, but he did score a century at Headingley in just his second Test appearance.

County colleague Ballance still averages 47.76 in Test action, but that number has been going the wrong way in recent times after he flourished at the start of his international career.

Ian Bell, meanwhile, is like a classic sports car: He still looks good, but reliability is an issue. The right-hander has only passed 50 once in his last 12 Test knocks and has been dismissed for one or less on seven occasions since his 143 in the opening match of the series in the West Indies, back in April.

England’s management team needs to work out if Lyth and Ballance can blossom in the intense heat of an Ashes battle. They also have to figure out if Bell is past his sell-by date, or just currently off the boil.

It’s a matter of opinions, and everyone has one.

Former England captain Bob Willis told Sky Sports: "To my eye, there is no way that Lyth and Ballance are going to get runs against this Australian attack this summer.”

Yet Anthony McGrath, an ex-team-mate of the pair at Yorkshire, feels England should keep the faith, per Sky Sports: “Gary’s done well at three. Like Adam, no need to panic at the moment. Keep him there and I’m sure he’ll come back and score some runs.” 

As for Bell, Dean Wilson in the Mirror wrote on Monday morning: “Ten years ago Ian Bell made six and 21 at Edgbaston in the win that started the ball rolling for England in the greatest series of all. In 10 days’ time, a similar set of scores at the same ground, his home ground, will almost certainly signal the end of his international career." 

England’s selectors are not going to dramatically drop the trio. Likewise, it is a risk to ignore the numbers and stand firm.

There is one player in county cricket who is knocking hard on the door—Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow.

On the same day England folded faster than an origami expert at Lord’s, he was making 139 for his county against Worcestershire.

His case for a Test recall is now ridiculously strong: The right-hander has scored 906 runs in the LV= County Championship at an average of 100.66 this summer. Somewhere, somehow, England might decide they need to squeeze him into their lineup.

 

Shuffle the pack

Instead of bringing in fresh faces, England could conceivably just move around the ones they have.

If he retains his place, Lyth stays as captain Alastair Cook’s opening partner. That is his natural position, the one he has filled with great success in county cricket.

Ballance, though, could drop down to five or six in the order. That is the place in the order where he caught the attention of the selectors initially, while playing for Yorkshire.

He looked like the long-term replacement for Jonathan Trott at three when he made a trio of centuries in the summer of 2014, but now his footwork—or lack of it—has become exposed at the highest level.

While Ballance looks stuck in the crease and intent only on survival, his counterpart for Australia, Steven Smith, made 273 runs at Lord’s using a technique that, while a little unorthodox, allowed him to always be positive. 

But, if England wishes to stick with the slow-but-steady Ballance, the solution could be to place him in between Joe Root and Ben Stokes, two players who naturally score quickly, in the order.

That would mean Bell rising to three, a slot he has filled before with mixed success. In 22 Tests in the position he has an average of 39.27.

Although history, and current form for that matter, suggests a promotion would be unwise, the 33-year-old needs to stand up and be counted as one of the squad’s senior men.

If he doesn’t, then his time at the top is done.

Alternatively, the management team could shift Root to bat at three. He, like Bell, has batted there before in Test cricket, stepping in to take the place of Trott during the last Ashes tour before being dropped himself for the last match of the series.

A recall for Bairstow would see him slotted in at five or six, pushing Root—and also maybe Stokes—up.

In the end, however, England might be just be doing their own version of shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

Keep the faith

The most conservative option of the lot, England’s selection panel might just decide to give the team that were soundly beaten at Lord’s an opportunity to put things right.

Lyth scored a century two Tests ago, Ballance and Bell have excellent Test records and there are not a plethora of players, aside from Bairstow, ready to be drafted in from around the counties.

Former skipper Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of the second Test: “You don’t overreact when you win and say you are going to wallop the Aussies 5-0 and you don’t go the other way when you lose. You make a change when there is someone better.”

Selecting the same faces at Edgbaston would be a gutsy call, considering the top order has been failing as a unit for some time.

It would also say little for county cricket if Bairstow, in the form of his life, did not at least get included in the squad for the next Test.

These are the tough decisions that England must make now.

Forget politics, a week (well, eight days between the end of the first Test and the conclusion of the second) is a long time in international cricket.

All stats used in the article are from ESPN Cricinfo 

England opened the Ashes summer with a resounding 169-run triumph in the opening Test in Cardiff—now it is time to see if Australia can bounce back as the series moves to Lord's.

Alastair Cook's side overcame a shaky start to win with a day to spare in the Welsh capital, giving them the early advantage.

The tourists have little time to lick their wounds as the teams quickly head to London. Australia have an impressive overall record in Ashes matches at the famous venue—they have won 14 and lost just seven of their 35 Test appearances.

However, they have not won there since the summer of 2005. That year they drew first blood, only to end up losing the series 2-1.

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. BST

Venue: Lord's, London

Live stream and TV info: Sky Sports (UK), Nine Network (Australia), SKY Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), STAR Sport (India) and NowTV (UK streaming service).

Weather: The outlook for Lord's is generally good, per BBC Weather. There is the possibility of thundery showers on the opening day, but overall the weather should not curtail the possibilities of a positive result.

Overview

England caught Australia cold in Cardiff. On a sluggish pitch, Alastair Cook's side outplayed and outwitted their rivals.

It could, though, have been a different story had Joe Root not been dropped at the start of his innings on the first day. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was unable to cling on to a relatively straightforward edge, letting England's form player off the hook when he should have been dismissed for a second-ball duck.

The drop proved costly—Root went on to make 134, England raced to 430 in their first innings and Australia found themselves unable to ever get a foothold in the contest.

Michael Clarke's side showed a lack of application with the bat in both innings, while even their vaunted bowling attack struggled for consistency. Mitchell Johnson, the scourge of England in the last Ashes, taking 37 wickets on home soil as Australia won 5-0, finished with match figures of two for 180.

Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann will hope Mitchell Starc is fit to play. He bowled through the pain at the Swalec Stadium, though an ankle problem did not stop him from picking up seven wickets in the match.

Lehmann told Sky Sports that the left-arm paceman, who had an injection to allow him to bowl on Day 3, could still feature in the second Test: "The big thing for us is he's got to be fully fit, we can't have a bowler go down." 

If Starc isn't ready, Australia will choose between seamers Peter Siddle and Pat Cummins. The latter only recently joined up with the squad as a replacement for the now-retired Ryan Harris.

They will definitely be making a change behind the stumps. Per BBC Sport, Haddin will miss the match at Lord's for personal reasons. Instead, the uncapped Peter Nevill will don the gloves for the visitors.

Shane Watson played in Wales, but he summed up his Test career with a performance that promised much before delivering little. He made starts in both innings with the bat, only to be trapped leg before wicket. He also unsuccessfully reviewed the decisions on each occasion. 

Watson sent down just 13 overs with the ball and, with Mitchell Marsh waiting in the wings having scored back-to-back centuries in the warm-up wins over Kent and Essex, the 34-year-old could be for the chop.

Chris Barrett of the Sydney Morning Herald reported on the eve of the Test that Watson had, indeed, been dropped. 

Fox Sports' poll suggested Marsh is clearly the favoured choice among Australians to bat at six in the order:

RESULTS: Today we asked if Mitch Marsh should replace Shane Watson for second #Ashes test... 71% of voted for change pic.twitter.com/VPZTe8wijc

— FOX SPORTS News (@FOXSportsNews) July 13, 2015

England won't need a long management meeting to sort out their XI.

They named an unchanged 13-man squad for the second Test, with Steve Finn and Adil Rashid likely to be left out again on the morning of the match.

The home side recorded Ashes wins at Lord's in 2009 and 2013. If they make it a hat-trick of victories over Australia at cricket headquarters, they would take a giant step toward regaining the miniature urn.

Key players

England

Root has been in outstanding form in England's middle order. He also has a fabulous record at Lord's—in his last four matches at the venue he has amassed 662 runs at an average of 94.57.

His century in the first Test of the series was the bedrock on which his team could build a match-winning position. He also made 60 in the second innings, as well as picking up two wickets to help secure victory.

The Yorkshireman—now Cook's understudy—has moved up to fourth in the ICC rankings. The only mistake he made in Cardiff was laughing at his captain after he had taken a blow just below the belt on Day 2.

Australia

While England's vice-captain was the star of the show in the opener, Australia's second in command did not manage to hit the ground running.

Steve Smith sat on top of the Test batting rankings at the start of the series, but two successive scores of 33 were not enough to keep him at the summit. 

He rather carelessly got himself caught at short mid-wicket off the bowling of spinner Moeen Ali in the first innings, though he was not the only Australian batsman to perish in tame fashion when well set.

Squads

England

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood

Australia

Michael Clarke (captain), Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wicketkeeper), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson

All stats used in the preview, as well as the squads listed, were from ESPN Cricinfo

Much of the talk before the first 2015 Ashes Test was about England's aggressive new approach against Australia. England's batsmen certainly lived up to that all-action billing, scoring at more than four runs per over in each innings.

The seam attack, led superbly by James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and handsomely supported by Mark Wood and Ben Stokes, showed there's still room for the age-old virtues of line and length.

On a Cardiff pitch offering some help to the quicker bowlers, Broad and Anderson both reaped the rewards for keeping things simple. Put the ball in the business area often enough and the results will take care of themselves.

The experienced England duo hardly wasted a delivery with the new ball in either innings. There was no width for David Warner. Very few juicy leg stump offerings for Steve Smith to stroke through mid-wicket. No let up for Shane Watson's enormous front pad.

Throw in late swing with that immaculate line and length and it was a supremely impressive effort from England's veteran pacemen.

"They're great bowlers. You do have records like that without being great bowlers," Cook on Broad and Anderson #Ashes pic.twitter.com/c20RshbZgh

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 11, 2015

Even with the best part of 700 Test wickets between them, the knock on England's two premier seamers is that they sometimes bowl a little too short. That certainly seemed to be the case during England's previous Test match against New Zealand at Headingley.

England's bowlers suffered a collective brain freeze against the Kiwis. In the second innings in Leeds Brendon McCullum's side smashed them for 454 from just 91 overs. Unable to maintain any control in the face of some aggressive batting, Broad and Anderson completely lost their radar.

They bowled so wildly it even prompted a headline in the Daily Mail that read, “Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson have a pathological fear of bowling full...England must act now to stop rot before the Ashes.”

If Cardiff is anything to go by, they have done so.

WATCH: Big wicket! Broad strikes to remove Steve Smith! #MyAshesSummer https://t.co/iktsNrQS4l

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 11, 2015

If the Australians thought they would get some respite from the more inexperienced members of the England attack they were very much mistaken. Mark Wood showed that his impressive efforts against New Zealand earlier this year were no fluke.

The Durham paceman topped 92 mph on the speed gun and challenged all of the Australian batsmen. With swing to go with his undoubted speed, he was a fine foil for Broad and Anderson. Inexperienced he may be but Wood looks a great prospect, as long as he can stay clear of injury.

As he showed against New Zealand at Lord's, Ben Stokes is a bowler able to produce unplayable deliveries. He's also been capable of dishing up a four-ball seemingly every over. Not so in Cardiff. The England all-rounder's line was as sharp as the crease in Alec Stewart's slacks for most of the match.

Joe Root's extra life, courtesy of the gloves of Brad Haddin, aside, the game's pivotal spell arguably came late on Day 2. England dried up what had been a brisk Australian scoring rate in the final session and edged in front when Stokes dismissed Adam Voges just before the close. It was an advantage they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game.

WICKET! Voges drives Stokes straight to Anderson at short cover: http://t.co/UfPzlxPbrW #MyAshesSummer pic.twitter.com/EYro1mWVzy

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 9, 2015

Yes, the pitch suited the kiss the top style of England's seamers rather than the hit the deck Australians. One of the keys to bowling is being able to adapt to the conditions and find the right line and length for any given pitch. England's pace attack in Cardiff managed that far better than their Australian counterparts.

Whether that continues for the remainder of the series will go a long way toward deciding the outcome of the 2015 Ashes.

England edged Day 2 of the first Test against Australia, but the opening Ashes encounter is still delicately poised.

The tourists reached the close in Cardiff on 264 for five in reply to England’s first-innings total of 430.

Opener Chris Rogers made 95 (more on him to come), and all of Australia’s top six batsmen made it into double figures.

However, the home side kept chipping away to make sure their opponents never assumed control. The late wicket of Adam Voges, caught for 31, tipped the balance of power in England’s favour, albeit only just.

Here are the key talking points from Thursday’s action in Cardiff.

Johnson’s morning to forget

Mitchell Johnson is a different beast when he’s bowling in England—cricket's version of Jekyll and Hyde.

In the last Ashes series in Australia during the winter of 2013/14, the left-arm paceman claimed 37 wickets as the hosts secured a 5-0 series sweep.

When he’s in England, though, Johnson just isn’t the same. A sluggish pitch didn’t help his cause in the Welsh capital, nor did Stuart Broad's being given a reprieve after initially being out caught at short leg.

It all added up to Johnson's final figures of none for 111. They are the worst of his career, according to OptaJim:

111 - Mitchell Johnson has conceded more runs in this innings than he ever has before when not taking a wicket in Tests (111). Radar.

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) July 9, 2015

The records didn’t end there, either. BBC Sport's Test Match Special rubbed salt in the wounds for Johnson, who now has an average of 42.56 in Test cricket in England.

Mitchell Johnson finished with the worst Test bowling figures of his career earlier today... http://t.co/4WyhijsnfY pic.twitter.com/3Oar50OEWi

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 9, 2015

While the bowler toiled, the Cardiff crowd rejoiced. He was given a huge cheer after going for over 100 runs. He at least saw the funny side of things, though, doffing his cap in acknowledgement.

He also saw two potential catches elude him in the deep, much to the delight of the England supporters.

Johnson can still have an impact with the ball in England's second innings. Before then, however, Australia needs him to weigh in with a few runs with the bat.

Positive spin from Moeen

Prior to the Test, England’s only selection issue surrounded the identity of the slow in their final XI.

Adil Rashid had been included in the 13-man squad, the Yorkshire leg-spinner having been part of England’s one-day squad that recorded a 3-2 series victory over New Zealand in June.

However, the management team opted to keep faith in Moeen Ali, a slow-bowling all-rounder who was the star turn (pun intended) during the home Tests against India last year.

He had been below par in the two Tests against the Black Caps at the start of the summer, picking up five wickets in two matches at an average of 50.

But Moeen made telling contributions with both bat and ball on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test.

The 28-year-old started out in the morning by hitting 77 from 88 deliveries, all vital runs for England that helped carry their total to 400 and beyond.

Moeen Ali returns to fine leg after picking up the key wicket of Clarke for 38 #AshesinWales https://t.co/xOMHH4WqGr

— Glamorgan Cricket 🏆 (@GlamCricket) July 9, 2015

Yet it was his bowling that was going to come under the most scrutiny. Australia came after him from the outset, with Steven Smith using his feet to hit three fours in Moeen's fourth over. 

The bowler, though, had the last laugh, getting Smith caught at short mid-wicket by Alastair Cook.

Michael Clarke also perished, caught and bowled, as Moeen dismissed Australia’s top two players of spin. He should still have a big part to play in the rest of the match, but he's already made a positive impact.

Rogers in the runs

Chris Rogers is on his farewell tour for Australia.

The opening batsman already confirmed prior to the series that he planned to retire at the end of the Ashes. He said of the decision, per the official website of Cricket Australia: “I think to go out in the Ashes and in England where I’ve played a lot of cricket is pretty fitting.”

He started the last leg of his international career in fine fashion, making 95 on his return to the team.

Having missed out on the two-Test series in the Caribbean after being hit on the head in the nets, the left-hander looked right at home in English conditions.

That should hardly come as a surprise—Rogers has been a familiar face on the country scene for many years, playing for four different teams during his career.

The 37-year-old registered two impressive records during his innings in Cardiff:

This is 186th score of 50+ for Chris Rogers in his first-class career - the same amount Sir Don Bradman scored in his FC career. #Ashes

— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) July 9, 2015

Chris Rogers became the first man to reach seven consecutive 50s without making a century. #AshesVerdict pic.twitter.com/UN1G4nRa96

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 9, 2015

Driving with authority while always looking solid in defence, Rogers looked destined to reach three figures.

However, Mark Wood put an end to his hopes of a century. The Durham paceman had the batsman caught behind by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler just five runs shy of the landmark. 

Rogers told Sky Sports after the close of play: “I’m old, I can feel it. Days in the field are hard work and even just being in this environment is fairly draining.”

It certainly wasn't draining watching him bat against England in the series opener. Australia will be hoping he has plenty more big scores in him before retirement.

Cook crumbles

After taking an excellent catch, Captain Cook takes one somewhere more...painful https://t.co/VziXixluoM #Ashes2015

— The Cricket Paper (@TheCricketPaper) July 9, 2015

England captain Cook must have been pleased with the way his side fought hard, firstly with the bat and then later with the ball, to get themselves in a promising position at the end of Thursday's play.

He was probably less pleased, however, when he took a nasty blow in the field while he stood at first slip.

Having just been on cloud nine after taking the catch to dismiss David Warner, Cook was sent crashing back down to earth with a bump—perhaps possibly more of a thud—after being struck in the, well, let’s say just in a sensitive area below the belt.

After briefly battling through the pain to carry on fielding, Cook eventually had to go off and get treatment, though what the physiotherapist can do to help him during such a difficult time is unclear.

At least his team-mates were sympathetic—Joe Root, who took over the captaincy in Cook's absence, found it hilariously funny:

Root and Cook >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Flintoff and Lee pic.twitter.com/IxCJNwIzMN

— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) July 9, 2015

Every Australian's favourite pantomime villain, Stuart Broad, was at it again on the second morning of the first Test of the Ashes.

The England No. 9 was initially given out on the field after Australian fielder Adam Voges claimed a catch off Mitchell Johnson, but the decision was overturned and Broad reinstated after television replays showed the ball had touched the floor.

The incident came shortly after Broad had copped one on the helmet while attempting to duck a ball that was nowhere near short enough to duck.

Clearly expecting a bouncer, @StuartBroad8 ducks and gets hit on the lid. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/JJ00CHWqv6

— Baz Cooper (@bazdjcooper) July 9, 2015

It's fair to say Johnson wasn't impressed with Broad's batting (warning: tweet contains profanity):

Mitchell Johnson has just gestured in no uncertain terms to the crowd that Stuart Broad is shitting himself!

— David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) July 9, 2015

Broad gained infamy in Australia when he declined to walk after edging behind during the 2013 Ashes series, going on to make 65 to set up a narrow England win.

England and Australia resume battle on Wednesday as the 2015 Ashes series begins in Cardiff.

The Welsh capital is staging a Test between the two nations for a second time, though it will have to go some to beat the tense finish that occurred back in 2009.

On that occasion, the home side's last-wicket pairing of James Anderson and Monty Panesar managed to hold on for a draw on the fifth and final evening.

Could we see such drama again at the Swalec Stadium? England will be hoping it isn't such a close shave, particularly as they were beaten 5-0 on Australian soil the last time the rivals met in Test action.

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. BST

Venue: Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

Live stream and TV info: Sky Sports (UK), Nine Network (Australia), SKY Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), STAR Sport (India) and NowTV (UK streaming service).

Weather: Per BBC Weather, it will be an overcast start to proceedings before brightening up for the rest of Wednesday. The long-range forecast shows some potential showers on Saturday, but otherwise rain should not be too much of an issue over the five days.

Overview

It is not too long since Australia were last on an Ashes tour in England, but much has changed in the two years since their last visit.

On that occasion, slow, low pitches, an inspired run of form for Ian Bell and a magical spell of bowling from Stuart Broad at Durham helped the hosts clinch a 3-0 series victory.

Back then, Australia were the side going through a period of transition. They had been demolished 4-0 in a Test series in India prior to the tour and, after a poor ICC Champions Trophy, coach Mickey Arthur was sacked.

Darren Lehmann took over and quickly turned things around. The return series in 2013/14 saw England whitewashed 5-0 to meekly surrender their grip on the urn.

Fast forward to 2015, and England are the team now trying to iron out their plans. They are the ones with fresh faces in their XI, they are the squad under a coach who has had little time to get his feet under the table.

Trevor Bayliss—an Australian who now works for his homeland's fiercest rivals—will be at the helm for his first Test since taking the England job following the departure of Peter Moores.

Bayliss made it clear in his first press conference that it is all about the players this summer, per Ali Martin of the Guardian: “I keep things simple. At the top level it’s about creating a good environment.”

Time for the Investec #Ashes squad photo!! pic.twitter.com/TmYZbbtDEm

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 7, 2015

A look at the team that played in the opening Test in 2013 shows how quickly things can change. Matt Prior, Graeme Swann and Jonathan Trott have all since retired, while Kevin Pietersen is in exile.

The experienced quartet were key cogs in a hugely successful side, and replacing them has not been easy.

There were promising signs for England at the start of the summer against the Kiwis, even if the series ended in a 1-1 draw, but facing Australia is completely different.

Australia also look different these days—Mitchell Johnson wasn't even part of the touring squad for the Test leg of the trip in 2013.

Less than six months later, however, he destroyed England on home soil, taking 37 wickets in the 2013/14 series at an average of 13.97.

The left-arm paceman is the leader of a bowling attack that will test this new England, even though they have lost Ryan Harris with a knee injury that has forced him to announce his retirement, per BBC Sport.

"A massive blow to Australia," says @MichaelVaughan

Full story on Ryan Harris's retirement: http://t.co/iPrN5wWrFf pic.twitter.com/yI6S5XHLGX

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 4, 2015

Johnson will be joined by another lefty in Mitchell Starc, as well as Josh Hazlewood. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the slow-bowling option.

Australia will choose between the experienced Shane Watson and the in-form Mitchell Marsh for the role of all-rounder, while Chris Rogers is available to open the batting again after missing the series against West Indies due to concussion.

England, meanwhile, will hope their fresh faces are not overwhelmed by being involved in the Ashes.

Opening batsman Adam Lyth cemented himself a chance to play with a century in his second Test appearance against New Zealand at Headingley. He is one of three Yorkshire players in the hosts' top five.

Lyth's county colleague Adil Rashid is also part of the 13-man squad for the game in Wales, though he is in competition with Moeen Ali for the spin-bowling berth.

Key players

England

Alastair Cook faces a big series, not just in terms of his form with the bat but also his captaincy. 

Opening partner Lyth is still learning the ropes in international cricket, while Gary Ballance and Ian Bell both struggled for runs in the two Tests against New Zealand earlier in the summer.

The left-handed Cook, in contrast, has made two hundreds and four half-centuries in his last eight Test knocks. He will be targeted by Australia's bowlers but big scores are the ideal way to lead from the front.

Australia

Johnson was at his devastating best in the last Ashes series, and the England players who had to face him on hard and fast Australian pitches will need to prove there are no long-lasting scars.

His record in England, where he has previously been targeted by the Barmy Army supporters, is not too impressive—he has claimed 23 wickets in seven Tests, averaging 37.73.

However, Australia batsman Adam Voges has warned England that Johnson is firing on all cylinders, per Lawrence Booth of the Mail: "Our net sessions aren’t much fun at all at the moment, to be honest. He’s got his zip back, he’s bowling fast and he’s swinging them as well."

Squads

England

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood

Australia

Michael Clarke (captain), Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wicketkeeper), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson

All stats used in the preview, as well as the squads listed, were from ESPN Cricinfo