Live: First Ashes Test, day one

Sky Sports cricket commentator Tim Abraham previews the first Ashes Test with Robert "Crash" Craddock.

Welcome to our live and interactive coverage of the first Ashes Test.

For all the late mail, scroll down for a comprehensive run down from the Herald Sun's Jamie Tate.

Otherwise stick with us for all the latest scores, analysis, video and reaction from social media.

JOIN US FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF EVERY MOMENT OF THE ASHES SERIES FROM THE FIRST BALL, INCLUDING A LIVE MATCH CENTRE WITH SCORES, STATS, HAWKEYE DISPLAY OF EVERY DELIVERY AND VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS THROUGHOUT EACH SESSION

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The first of 10 Ashes Tests to take place over the next six months kicks off tonight at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

If the series lives up to half the hype, we're in for a gripping contest.

So what can we expect this evening?

HULK HOGAN'S ADVICE FOR DAVID WARNER

Former Test paceman Stuart Clark is backing opener Shane Watson to score a mountain of runs in this Ashes series.

TEAMS

BREAKING SELECTION: Teenage spinner Ashton Agar has earned a shock call-up ahead of Nathan Lyon.

Agar's selection will stun the cricketing world given his modest first class record of 31 wickets at 29.38 from just ten matches for Western Australia.

Agar was not originally named in Australia's Ashes touring party but was added as a development player. The left-arm finger spinner played in Australia's tour match against Worcester, claiming figures of 2-79 and 1-86.

The selection of Agar could prove important against England's ace Kevin Pietersen, who has been exposed by left-arm spin in the past.

Australia all-rounder Steve Smith will make his Ashes debut, beating Dave Warner for Australia's No.6 spot.

Warner was heavily tipped to play in the opening Test at Trent Bridge despite not having played for a month after being stood down for behavioural reasons.

Smith adds an extra spin option for Darren Lehmann's side, with the pitch expected dry-out towards the back-end of the Test.

Fast bowlers Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson all rested from Australia's optional net session last night at which fellow quicks Ryan Harris, Jackson Bird and James Faulkner all took part.

It was a sure sign Siddle will join Starc and Pattinson alongside Nathan Lyon tonight.

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh says Dave Warner should be picked at No.6 for the Ashes because of his devastating strokeplay.

England has one decision to make - Steven Finn or Tim Bresnan. Bresnan might win out for his ability to deliver reverse swing, especially considering talk of a very dry pitch.

Bresnan has taken four or more wickets in a Test five times - three of those have been at Trent Bridge.

INSIDE THE AUSSIE CHANGEROOMS

PITCH

MICHAEL Clarke noted with surprise when he first saw the pitch last Sunday that it was ready to play on then.

Maybe it's a CEO's pitch. Maybe the Wednesday start has conspired to produce a batsman-friendly strip that's sure to last five days. When every day at the 16,000 capacity is a sellout, there's a lot of coin on the line for England cricket authorities.

Notably, the pitch has been under cover the past two days despite plenty of sunshine and no threat of rain. Is the curator worried about the pitch deteriorating too quickly?

Expect the captain who wins the toss tonight to bat without hesitation and a first-innings score of 400 will be the pass mark.

Ahead of the coming Ashes series, we look at which English players pose the biggest threat to Australia's hopes of claiming the urn.

The past nine Tests have all been results, expect this to provide a winner, too. The team batting first has won six of those matches.

PICK YOUR AUSSIE XI

BIG THREAT

GRAEME Swann looms ever large.

He has a modest Test record at his home county ground, three wickets at 65 runs apiece, but with hot weather and an Australian batting line-up loaded with left-handers, he could be the decisive player come days three, four and five.

This bloke should really be playing for us. You have to love the attitude of a man who had this to say at a lead-up press conference: "Hopefully we can provide a lot of people with a lot of reasons to get very drunk ... If I wasn't playing in this series I would be standing in a pub come Thursday afternoon for six weeks solid cheering on England.''

PONTING PICKS A 2-1 AUSSIE WIN

THE PUNT

The legendary Hulk Hogan offers some words of wisdom to David Warner ahead of the Ashes series.

UNLESS nerves take hold of batsmen, this match could be a slow burn to start with before catching fire at the end.

Don't be surprised to see plenty of runs on the first three days, which would open up betting opportunities.

If you like either England ($1.95 at the TAB) or Australia ($3.50), don't take the odds offered pre-match, wait for something around $3 for England and/or $7 Australia inside the first two days.

When the pitch wears late in the game, those odds could bring gold. The draw is currently $3.75 and should stay tight in the first two or three days.

Shane Watson could hardly be in better touch and looks a strong option to be Australia's highest scorer in the first innings ($4.50 at the TAB).

Kevin Pietersen's Test average at Trent Bridge (465 runs @ 38.8) is better than any of his teammates at the venue. He's also $4.50 to score most first innings runs for England.

But the England group is a much more open market. Watson is by far the better value.

PUP'S LEADERSHIP A WORK IN PROGRESS

A replica ashes urn sits on the outfield at Trent Bridge, scene of the first Test. Picture: Getty Images

WINNING IS ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE

RINGING ENDORSEMENT FROM BELL

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