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Sport
Scott Bailey

England bat first in Ashes opener, Australia omit Starc

Aussie quick Mitchell Starc has been dropped for the first Ashes Test of the series at Edgbaston. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Australia have been asked to bowl first by England at Edgbaston after the visitors made the call to leave Mitchell Starc out of the first Ashes Test.

Captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood would both play, leaving Starc as the unlucky man out.

England captain Ben Stokes' decision to bat first marks the first time he has done so in a home Test, with the team generally preferring to chase in the fourth innings.

But the Edgbaston wicket looks flat, and there are clear skies overhead in Birmingham on Friday.

Boland had not previously been picked in a full-strength Australian attack, with all seven of his previous Tests having been played with Hazlewood out injured.

However the incredible start to his career has made him near undroppable, after taking 33 wickets at an average of 14.57.

Hazlewood has been limited to four Tests in the past two years, having battled a run of side strain injuries and an Achilles problem.

But his control in England and the promise of a fresh body who did not play in last week's World Test Championship win over India at The Oval would have been a lure for selectors.

Starc was expensive in that final, and while Australia value his wicket-taking edge he has now been left out of an attack when fit for the first time since the 2019 Ashes.

Australia will likely rotate the three quicks through the English summer, with fellow paceman Cummins keen to play all five Tests as captain.

England had confirmed their side earlier in the week, with veterans Stuart Broad and James Anderson in the attack and their fastest quick Mark Wood overlooked.

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

ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

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