Ashes 2nd Test Highlights, AUS vs ENG: Root's 135* takes England to 325/9 at stumps, Starc bags six-wicket haul

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Nice and safe innings from Root to bring up his 50. Has kept out the good balls and kept it moving when he's had the chance. One of his old school innings where his score just sneaks up on you. Could this be the day for him?

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Shot! Just hops down the crease and smashes it through covers for 4. Carey comes up to the stumps to pin him down so Brook tries to scoop – misses, is out of his crease, but regains it just in time before Carey sharply whips the bails off. Close call!

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Got him! Short ball plan works out for Australia. It's not particularly bouncer-y or sharp, but it's enough to push Crawley onto the back foot. A thin under-edge as he tries to pull, and easily taken behind the wickets. Important wicket for Australia to take, expose the new man Harry Brook.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Just trying to pose some questions here while the ball is relatively hard and new, so Doggett is steaming in and digging it short. Gets Root to glove one fine, but juuuuust wide of Alex Carey. Nearly worked there!

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: A quick rest for the players and now the testing session for England begins as the light begins to fade.

Crawley starts as he ended last session, getting a short ball on his hips and swivel-pulling to pick up 4 and take England to three digits.

Two balls later, a terrific cover drive for four. 9 runs off the first over after the break! 107/2.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: England's session at the end of the first couple of hours of play. Australia had them against the ropes, but Crawley in particular scores 61*, supported by Joe Root on 32*. They will be very very happy with where they are at the end of this session.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Well done from Crawley! He has had a couple of iffy moments, as you will against Starc and co., but he has looked largely in control, picking up runs at will and keeping that score moving. Good way to retort after his Perth pair and the criticism that followed.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: No reeason to get nervous for Australia, they are back on top with a wicket. But Crawley and Root beginning to look comfortable, whenever they are given a chance to find runs they are managing to do that. Nicely balanced heading into this final part of the session.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Duckett and Pope will be kicking themselves. This is a relatively flat is slightly two-pitched pitch – but neither got a massively demonic ball. The batters now at the crease seem confident.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Quietly growing into a good stand this one. England need one of these to go on and score big. Root finds 4 and takes the partnership to 50. Growing now;

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Ooh, that was an uppish straight drive from Crawley – Starc nearly gets a hand to it, and Crawley shoots him a wry smile. Reminds you of that ridiculous catch in Perth. Ultimately, he's hit that well and powerfully, with more intent, and that's enough to get him 4 this time.

Into the 30s, and looking good at the moment, if slightly risky.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Crawley trying to remain positive despite the early wickets. It's a lightning fast outfield so he's getting value for his shots. 22*(22) at run-a-ball at this point, just ensuring England have some kind of momentum.

28/2 after 6.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Wow, nearly! Root edge it behind this time, but it's just dying in front of first slip. Out of nowhere, Smith from second flies across, gets a good hand to it – but just doesn't stick! Nearly, and Root gets four as well.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Bad to worse! Horror start for England! Ollie Pope gets one outside his off stump he gets into all sorts of a mess trying to cut away – that's far too close. Rush for pace and cramped for room, just chops onto his stumps.

5/2. Big trouble!

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: GOT HIM! Wickets growing on trees for Mitchell Starc! Good areas early, but that's a ball you have to leave as a left-handed batter. Just tries to fend at it but it's a nothing shot. Catches the edge and he's gone first ball! Very disappointing for England, these are the best batting conditions they can ask for too.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Starc all over Crawley early! Finds that angle across, just pulls in the line a touch with every ball, and draws a pair of false shots from a player who has been struggling against him.

Fourth ball of the over, he finally gets one he can lean into and drive, and it's a nice shot through the covers for four! His first runs for the series and big cheers from the Barmy Army.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Buzz in the air in the Brizzy afternoon as we prepare to get rolling. Zak Crawley with a pair in Perth – can he improve his series thus far? Here we go!

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England:

Australia Playing XI: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: No shockers from the toss as Ben Stokes wins the toss and opts to bat first, keep the game on his terms. It is Steve Smith who had to lead, but he is optimistic about the skipper's return. Couple of changes for the Aussies as Michael Neser also comes in for Nathan Lyon.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: This is likely going to be one of the more important tosses of the series in terms of what needs to be done first up, with the idea of coming out to bat in an evening session being a daunting one. Nevertheless, a look at the teams: England have confirmed Will Jacks comes in for Mark Wood, given extra spin and more batting depth. Australia will be without Hazlewood, Cummins, and now Usman Khawaja, as Josh Inglis is expected to slot into the middle order.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: Australia have played 14 day-night pink ball Tests since they were introduced, and have gone on to win THIRTEEN of them. It's an incredible strike rate in this kind of game, as they just rack up win after win. Yes, the sole loss came at this particular venue, but that was largely an aberration against the Windies: a 3-0 pink ball record sways Australia being into heavy favourites.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: With both teams slightly wonky on their batting front, not settled, not in the best of form, and prone to phases of bad play, it doesn't help anybody except the bowlers that the volatile pink ball comes into play at the Gabba. This will only make things tougher given the calibre of fast bowlers participating – but it also gives someone like Ben Stokes a chance to think out of the box and use the uncomfortable situation to his benefit.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: As is the case with any Ashes, it almost feels like a significant portion of the battle will always be fought in media rooms and with quotes online. Sure, there has been minimal cricket action, but bouncers and yorkers aplenty not just from former pros, but also the previous match have made sure that there will be a certain edge to this one, especially after Stokes' post-Perth comments. Add to that the day-night element of it all, and it really couldn't get a trickier two weeks to handle.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: The Aussies have made a very good habit of taking early leads in Ashes series and putting England on the back foot. England have show excellent temperament and spirit to fight back from adversity on home turf – but in Australia, often crumble before things get started. Ben Stokes knows a particular kind of backbone will be needed for England to mount their comeback from here, but you cannot write them off just at the start.

Ashes 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE Score, Australia vs England: After the Ashes madness got off to a rock-and-roll start in Perth a couple of weeks ago, it has been nearly half a month of purely waiting and letting the tensions boil over in this always-precarious series. Now, with the time for the match here, it is time for cricket to do the talking – but what sort of cricket will it be? An undulating five-day thriller? Or more of what we saw over in Perth?

Only one way to find out as we build up to the start of the second Ashes Test match, the pink-ball match in Brisbane.