Joe Root scores superb Ashes century before England declare against Australia

An Ashes series tipped to be a classic did not disappoint on day one, with a full house at Edgbaston treated to a sublime century from Joe Root, an enterprising performance from Australia, and the latest eye-popping declaration from Ben Stokes. If this is a sign of things to come, the pre-match predictions may have undersold the contest.

At stumps Australia found themselves 14 for no loss from four overs, not having bowled England out but rather plunged into a 20-minute examination against the new ball. After winning the toss on a pitch offering next to no lateral movement, England had typically raced their way to 393 for eight from just 78 overs – the fifth time their captain has pulled the pin on a first innings in just his 15th Test in charge.

Convention pointed to England amassing as many first-innings runs but then Stokes and his head coach, Brendon McCullum, have long since thrown convention out of the window. Their side certainly met team orders in terms of aggression, even if it took the permanent class of Root and an unbeaten 118 from 152 balls – his 30th Test century and a first in an Ashes series since 2015 – to prevent an alarming derailment.

Allied with this was a run-a-ball 78 from Jonny Bairstow in a rollicking 121-run stand for the sixth wicket that turned a troubling 175 for five after lunch into something more serviceable. Still, with Saturday set fair, Australia may well sense their chance to go big in response. And with the ball, despite shipping a run rate of five an over, the tourists could still reflect on an encouraging start to proceedings.

This was another sun-soaked day in south Birmingham, the river of spectators streaming through the gates in good time for the pomp, pageantry and pyrotechnics