First maiden in some time for Australia. Mitchell Starc enjoys his first clean slate after lunch, a good bowling switch by Pat Cummins. 

The Barmy Army are in fine voice. Amazing to see given the coronavirus restrictions.

Nathan Lyon is back with the ball for Australia. 

Hotspot needed for this one, there's no white spot. Umpire's decision of not out stands. Buttler breathes a huge sigh of relief.

That would have been catastrophic for England. 

Mitchell Starc is back in the bowling attack in the first Australia switch up after lunch. Buttler needs to get used to the left-hander and swipes at a loose ball outside of off stump. 

And now there's a review! Did Buttler nick Starc behind to Alex Carey? Given not out. 

Australia vice-captain Steve Smith has a word with Pat Cummins but Josh Hazlewood carries on - and so does England's growing run rate.

Buttler hits another shot into the gap, this time down leg side, for three. Buttler has now overtaken Ollie Pope as the main run-getter.

Buttler 29 (31)

Pope 25 (58)

Jos Buttler. Middle of the bat. Cut. Offside. I'm just leaving this here to copy and paste for later. That's how it's going at this rate.

After Ollie Pope pulled a shot to fine leg, Buttler hits another four with another excellent drive through the covers. 

Australia need to rethink their bowling options, England are picking up runs quickly. 

Jos Buttler is in the mood here. He cuts another shot away but it only finds Nathan Lyon at deep square leg. Frustrating for him he was away down the crease looking for more runs. 

Another uppish shot into the gap - which is now becoming a trademark move - earns another three runs. Quick single for Pope keeps the visitors' run tally ticking over. 

Buttler picks up two more in a very promising over for England. Josh Hazlewood has shot up to 2-23. He was 2-3 shortly before lunch. 

Another nervous moment, this time for Jos Buttler, at the hands of Pat Cummins.

England's newest batsman tries to block a fierce delivery but it flies past the outside edge and into the hands of Alex Carey. A few oohs and aahs from the Australia slips but there was no contact. 

Then normality resumes for Buttler, who punches another offside shot deep into the field and picks up another three. Ollie Pope adds two more with another precision shot.

Five off the over. Positive stuff here. 

Maybe Jos Buttler isn't quite over the T20 World Cup just yet. Josh Hazlewood pitches up a short ball to him to start the over and Buttler plays an uppish shot into the gap on the offside which bounces once for four. 

Then comes a bit of calm, Buttler leaves the next four as a reminder that England need cool heads out here. 

Another uppish shot from Buttler! This time it's high and down the ground but in the gap once again. It looks like it's going for another one bounce four but lands flat on the ground and has to settle for three. 

Pope 20 (51)

Buttler 14 (14)

Ollie Pope needs to be steady here. The 23-year-old swings high at Pat Cummins' bouncer and it nearly results in a top edge into the hands of Alex Carey.

No touch on the bat, however, despite some interests from the slips behind. 

Pope 20 (51)

Buttler 7 (8)

Maybe Jos Buttler was taking notes from Ollie Pope's morning display. Buttler is taking no time to get involved, stepping off his crease to fire two impressive shots into the first offside.

The first went to the boundary for four, the second got another two on the board for England. Pope and Buttler are reliable figures - England need that right now. 

Pope: 19 (46)

Buttler 6 (7)

Sportsmail's LAWRENCE BOOTH in Australia: Australia take control early in the session once more. Haseeb Hameed played well amid the carnage before lunch, but his hands were a bit low there - a pre-series concern for the pundits - and Cummins drew the edge.

Smith takes a smart catch at second slip: Australia have caught all their chances so far, which feels like another area where they have the edge over England.

The good news for England is Jos Buttler is out to the crease. There was a moment where many thought the visitors' vice-captain would not make it out to Australia for this year's Ashes but it's good to see him out in Brisbane.

The bad news for England (other than being five down) is that the sun has come out. Any hint of rain delays seems a long way away.

Buttler survives his first two balls from Cummins and England can regroup, temporarily. 

Disaster for England. That is not what the doctor ordered after lunch. 

Haseeb Hameed, who was so solid in the morning session, barely manages any time in the second session as he edges to Steve Smith from Pat Cummins' delivery.

Two wickets for Australia's new captain on day one of the Ashes. 

Right, after that time to get a breather (or perhaps a small power nap for some of you) - we're back out for session two.

Can Ollie Pope and Haseem Hameed continue their good work in Brisbane? Or will more England wickets fall? And will the rain arrive? It looks sunny at the Gabba.

Australia captain Pat Cummins will get a go at Pope first up...

Sportsmail's PAUL NEWMAN: Well, that was some session. At 11 for 3, England looked dead and buried almost before the game had begun.

At 59 for 4 at lunch, with Haseeb Hameed and Ollie Pope growing in stature, they have at least some kind of foothold in the match.

They're a long way from a par score, but - let's be honest - it could have been a whole lot worse. There's still a chance of showers this afternoon, but for the moment England have kept the Australian storm at bay.

Sportsmail's LAWRENCE BOOTH in Australia on England's first session: England have made some grim starts to Ashes series down the years, but the opening skirmishes at the Gabba set new standards.

This most hyped of Test encounters was not yet six overs old when England – having chosen to bat in conditions ideal for bowling – found themselves 11 for three, and already praying for the Gold Coast rain that had ruined any meaningful preparation.

It was bad enough that Rory Burns fell to the first ball of the series, bowled round his legs by left-armer Mitchell Starc as he shuffled nervously across his stumps. But soon came a morale-sapping duck for Joe Root, as world cricket’s in-form Test batsman was caught by David Warner off the unerring Josh Hazlewood.

In between, Dawid Malan was undone by Hazlewood’s bounce and movement, providing debutant wicketkeeper Alex Carey with his first catch in Test cricket.
 

And when Ben Stokes, in his first international appearance since July, provided Pat Cummins with a maiden Test wicket as Australia’s captain straight after mid-morning drinks, England were 29 for four. It had taken them all of an hour to slip into their traditional role in this part of the world – somewhere between punchbag and laughing stock.

Ollie Pope steps into Nathan Lyon's spin delivery once again and manages to get a single. Perhaps a little too risky given he was well out his crease in the over before lunch. Miss and England are five down. 

Lyon knows that too and grimaces at Pope as he runs down the crease. Haseeb Hameed sees out the rest of Lyon's over and that's the first session.

England reached 50 - but at a cost. Four wickets, including captain Joe Root and Ben Stokes, to be exact. 

No rain yet and the Ashes are back. Those are the good points. 

Two more for Ollie Pope, who is more than holding his own out there. The England batsman finds another man in the deep on the offside and some quick running is helping the visitors out here, despite being in a hole. 

Cameron Green boosts his confidence with some more dot balls around that double, however.

One more over before lunch, maybe?

Hameed 24 (69)

Pope 16 (41) 

Nathan Lyon has another go at Ollie Pope and it does look like the spin bowler is getting a fair bit of turn on this pitch. 

Jack Leach will be looking on and licking his lips, particularly for when he steps up in the latter days of this Test. 

Pope knocks another shot into the off side for a single, while Haseeb Hameed ends the over with a boundary by edging a shot past the slips and into the fast outfield. 

Hameed 24 (69)

Pope 14 (35)

An appeal and a maiden for Cameron Green on his first Ashes over. Not bad at all. Some confidence can be taken from that. 

Time for Cameron Green to have a bowl. He never has a Test wicket, now would be an excellent time to get it.

And does he get it straight away? Haseeb Hameed has a swing and it clips something before finding Alex Carey. Australia appeal to the umpire but he remains still. The hosts opt not to review.

It looks like Green's delivery hit the edge of Hameed's pad, not bat, but that was close.

A bit of aggression from England here. Haseeb Hameed swings at Nathan Lyon's first ball of his second over and some quick running between the wickets gets England up to 50. 

Ollie Pope then gets a bit of Lyon treatment and is not afraid to come and meet the spin bowler's efforts right out of his crease. He then drops on the back foot and swings an effort straight into the foot of silly point Marnus Labushagne. 

Hameed 20 (62)

Pope 13 (30)

Another single for Ollie Pope edges England closer to 50. Haseeb Hameed then takes a Pat Cummins delivery straight in the box. Always an awkward one, that. 

Hameed recovers with a quick single to get back on strike. He wants another go at Nathan Lyon. 

Hameed 19 (61)

Pope 13 (25)

Nathan Lyon's field is enticing. Haseeb Hameed is surrounded by slips either side and silly point. 

England's opener, however, deals with this challenge well, connecting with all of Lyon's efforts with some solid blocks. Hameed tries to play a fine shot on the last ball of the over but there's a cry of 'Oh, come on!' when it finds a man out there. 

The Nottinghamshire man is known for dealing well with spin. This battle could be very interesting indeed. Maiden for Lyon though.

Go on Ollie Pope. The 23-year-old is proving to be solid on the offside, reaching to drive a lovely shot through offside for another four. 

Pat Cummins has a rethink of the bowling and it's Nathan Lyon time. Will he get the spin he needs on this green Gabba pitch?

Hameed 18 (52)

Pope 12 (22)

Yet another maiden for Josh Hazlewood, who is firing deliveries quicker than my much-needed Lucozade Sports are flowing down my throat. 

Some calm after the frenetic 69 minutes for England - but how long until we see another setback for the visitors?

A first boundary for Ollie Pope, placing a lovely shot through the Australia covers and along the floor to four. A big confidence boost in what has been a good first 15 or so balls for the young man. 

Mitchell Starc, who got Rory Burns out first ball, has stats of 1-19 off five overs.

Hameed 18 (46)

Pope 8 (16)

Josh Hazlewood's figures take a slight hit from 2-2 to 2-3. Tough times. 

Hameed 17 (43)

Pope 4 (13)

Ooh that is nice form Ollie Pope, who swipes Pat Cummins' delivery deep into the off side, earning England three more runs.

Haseeb Hameed copies his man in the crease, giving Mitchell Starc some running to do with a similar effort. England on 37. 

Ollie Pope has a job on his hands facing Josh Hazlewood, who has figures of 2-2 off four overs and picks up another maiden here. 

The 23-year-old England batsman shows resilience however, punching his blocks using the middle of the bat, straight down into the ground and back into the Australia bowler's hands. 

Hameed 12 (37)

Pope 1 (7)

Sportsmail's PAUL NEWMAN: 'That's my first curse of the series (see 1.04am post). Trust me to say they were going well. Ben Stokes has gone and that really is disaster for England. Where's that rain we were promised? It could be England's only hope now....'

Ollie Pope comes into the crease. His first outing since a solid half-century against India at the Oval earlier this year.

A solid first shot too, with a defensive block and run to get off the mark early on.

Hameed 12 (37)

Pope 1 (1)

Oh no. Just as Ben Stokes was getting in in the groove.

Stokes' first job after drinks is to drive Pat Cummins' delivery into the off side, through the covers and away for four. Solid shot. 

But then Cummins forces Stokes to edge to Marnus Labuschagne in the slips.

Tough, tough tough first 69 minutes for England. Can they last the day?

Sportsmail's PAUL NEWMAN: And so ends a very chastening first hour for England. Easy to say with hindsight but the decisions to leave out Stuart Broad and then bat first are looking like mistakes at the moment. BUT Haseeb Hameed has shown encouraging glimpses so far and Ben Stokes is proving he has the best defence among all England's batsmen as well as the capability for fireworks. If these two can just keep going.....

More leg byes for England. Mitchell Starc's wicked delivery bounces of Haseeb Hameed's thigh and away for four down fine leg. 

But the Australia then sends a swinging ball that just misses the edge of Hameed's bat and off stump - a Starc reminder of his qualities (sorry - it's late and I'm entertaining myself).

Time for drinks. The Gabba crowd is settling and the Barmy Army are finding their voice a little more. 

Hameed 12 (36)

Stokes 1 (17)

Ben Stokes is biding his time a la Headingley 2019, where he went 50 balls without getting off the mark. England's batting hero is leaving the bouncers well as he looks to test out the hard Gabba pitch.

A fierce drives from Stokes nearly beats Travis Head down the ground but there's some good fielding from the Australia man to stop another boundary. 

Another maiden for Australia and Pat Cummins, and a calm and decent enough few overs for England - for now. That's a bit of a reach, right?

Mitchell Starc, who was replaced by captain Pat Cummins in the Australia bowling attack when Joe Root stepped in, is now back with the ball. 

It's nearly a positive move as Haseeb Hameed reaches and edges a fierce effort but it clears over the slips and bounces for four. Finally some luck for England. 

I'm so nervous for England's batsmen that all my strawberry laces are nearly finished. They were meant to last at least a couple of hours.

Hameed 12 (30)

Stokes 1 (11)

Hameed hits another shot straight to the man in fine leg for another run. A minor positive is that England still have another opener out there who is looking like he is holding his own at the Gabba.* 

Stokes holds his own as well, trying to drive through Australia's ring around the crease but always finding the man.

* Please don't jinx this for me Haseeb. 

Stokes 1 (11)

Hameed 8 (24)

Ben Stokes is off the mark, but not in his classic fashion. England's returning hero slips slightly as he swipes away an awkward Josh Hazlewood delivery through the covers. 

A leg bye from Haseeb Hameed sees England notch up the runs slightly. 

Stokes 1 (6)

Hameed 7 (23)

Extras 1

Haseeb Hammed continues his cagey start at the crease, avoiding any risks from Pat Cummins' fierce deliveries.

England need to settle. They may even need the rain. But we've seen this before from the visitors, irrespective of how well Australia are bowling. 

Stokes 0 (3)

Hameed 7 - (22)

Lawrence Booth in Australia: Joe Root goes for a duck, and England are 11 for three and already praying for the rain that has been forecast. Australia are bowling well and the conditions are helpful, but I'm afraid there's something grimly predictable about all this.

Paul Newman: It's the nightmare scenario now. Joe Root has been in incredible form this year and if England are to have any chance in this Ashes he simply has to maintain that. But he's gone already and England are three down in the first half hour. No preparation before this first Test of course in these Covid times but first England left out their big two bowlers in Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, then they decided to bat first and now this. The worst possible start. Welcome back Ben Stokes!

Ben Stokes, back in the England team, is out to replace Root - who surely must be regretting to bat first. 

England are in trouble, but their hero is out now. Huge moment. Welcome back, Ben. 

Stokes leaves Hazlewood's final delivery of this over. Huge. 

Stokes 0 (1)

Hameed 5 (16)

Joe Root is NOT comfortable here - and he FALLS!. Josh Hazlewood was firing him some cannonballs. The third of which nearly clips the edge of Root's bat. Any touch and England's skipper would have walked.

The fourth clips Root's bat then pad. Another awkward moment. But then... OUT!

Hazlewood pushed England's captain even further back towards his stumps, Root dangles out the bat and Warner catches him at slip. 

Australia's new captain Pat Cummins brings himself on. The bowler has an excellent record against England's Joe Root and fancies himself against his opposite number.

Cummins doesn't get his chance against England's skipper though, as Haseeb Hameed holds out in some more stubborn play. Another maiden for Australia, Cummins will have to wait for Root. 

Lawrence Booth in Australia: Dawid Malan was actually looking in decent touch until Josh Hazlewood got one to bounce a bit and leave him, and this is the scenario England dreaded: Joe Root in, with the ball, bowlers and pitch all still fresh.

Paul Newman: Will Joe Root already be regretting batting first? Well, it was always going to be tough in this first session and it would have been equally hard for Australia. They just had to get through until lunch and go from there but already that is proving beyond England. Disappointing from Dawid Malan. Didn't need to play at that. Encouraging signs from Haseeb Hameed so far but it's very much going to be down to the captain to get England to a competitive score from here.

England captain Root, faced with three slips and a gully, blocks his first Hazlewood effort, leaves the second, blocks the third and then awkwardly pushes away the fourth.

Wicket maiden for Australia. Tricky moments for England. They need a partnership. 

Hameed 5 (10)

Root 0 (4)

Another wicket for Australia, plenty of work to do for England here. This has been a horror start for the visitors.

Josh Hazelwood plays a shorter second ball of the over to Dawid Malan, who glances an awkward block straight into the arms of Alex Carey for his first Ashes catch.

Joe Root, who must have had his head in his hands before coming out, is out at the Gabba crease. We've only played around 18 minutes. 

Mitchell Starc is back and wants another visiting opener in Haseeb Hameed walking back to the pavillion, but there's plenty of stubbornness from the England man.

The fourth ball of the over sees Hameed drive down the ground and his rolling effort reaches the boundary. Stunning shot, followed by a few more leaves. 

Malan - 6 (7)*

Hameed - 5 (10)

Josh Hazlewood chucks a few bouncing efforts at Haseeb Hameed before England's only remaining opener earns a quick single.

Dawid Malan blocks his two efforts on the Australia seam bowler. Just one from that over. Solid start from Hazlewood. 

Dawid Malan survives the first over. It started well for England No 3 by getting the visitors off the mark with a boundary, sliding a shot past the slips, along the ground towards the fence.

Two more runs follow later in the over. Now it's time for Haseeb Hameed to face his first delivery from Josh Hazlewood. 

Dawid Malan - no pressure. Out earlier than he would have wanted. Facing Mitchell Starc's second ball. 

WICKET FIRST BALL FOR AUSTRALIA!

Disaster for England. Mitchell Starc speeds into the crease and off goes leg stump. Rory Burns walks. 

Not. In. The. Gameplan. 

Right, here we go. All the talking stops, the anthems are done. Time for some cricket. 

England batsmen Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed walk out to the crease. A lot of pressure on those two to set the tone in this Ashes series - and justify Joe Root's call to bat first. 

Mitchell Starc will get the bowling underway for Australia...

The flags are on the pitch, the umpires are out on the Gabba. And here come the players.

Joe Root leads out his England team, as does Pat Cummins his. A big crowd in Brisbane.

Here come the anthems...

England captain Joe Root made his final message to fans of the tourists...

Here's a reminder of the two teams, with England winning the toss and batting first:

England: Burns, Hameed, Malan, Root (C), Stokes, Pope, Buttler (wk), Woakes, Robinson, Wood, Leach

Australia: Warner, Harris, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Green, Carey (wk), Cummins (C), Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood.

Here's some snaps from the Gabba. Not far away from first ball now...

Alastair Cook on BT Sport duty: I think Rooty is a brilliant captain. He's not scared of making a big decision. He's making it (dropped Broad) because it's a big opportunity. He is the number one man, he is driving that team and we wish him well in that big series. 

Steve Harmison: It's a great toss and it's great to win. They've gone safe with Broad and Anderson not playing, looking to use them further down the line and they are looking to put runs on the board.  

Australia captain Pat Cummins on losing the toss: 'That's fine. We would have had a bat. It's 50:50, it's not going to have a big impact either way. 

'I thought one of Broad or Anderson would play each Test. They're a good 11, we will have to play well.'

Joe Root on winning the toss: 'We are blessed with a very good seam attack and it was a difficult decision to make.

'There's five Tests and it's important they're ready to go when called upon at any time. We have prepared and planned really well. We're grateful to get the opportunity to play a series like this and we want to make the most of it.'

Here comes the toss...

So the big team selection news from an England perspective is that bowler Stuart Broad will play NO part in this first Test. A big early call from Chris Silverwood and Joe Root. 

But there's a big focus on Ollie Robinson, featuring in his first Ashes Test for England this week. Sportsmail columnist David Lloyd said this week that the 28-year-old will be key and other pundits think the same:

Steve Harmison: I think Ollie Robinson is key. His natural length can challenge Steve Smith. Robinson is that little bit fuller. Robinson does that to you. 

Alastair Cook: It's natural for him. He's got that kiss off the surface like McGrath. It's a horrible comparison as it puts under pressure. He's the key for England's bowling. Broad and Anderson will be key in certain stages but he has that certain length.  

Some big news out from the England team, Stuart Broad does NOT start. The 35-year-old, who has been struggling with a calf problem recently, joins Jimmy Anderson on the sidelines. 

Jack Leach and Mark Wood are BOTH set to feature. 

So we're expecting the toss in around 20 minutes or so - the first big decision for captains Joe Root of England and Australia's Pat Cummins, who is making his debut as skipper.

So what should each team look to do? Let's see what the experts say...

Glenn McGrath to BT Sport at the Gabba: It is muggy and I've been out in the middle and it's going to be a bit of movement in the air to start. I'm waiting of the toss to see what the captain should do. It is a standard Gabba pitch but the groundsman has not had the same amount of time with so much rain around. There's a good covering of grass. It's a bit slow though but will quicken up by day three or four though. It will spin, there's a bit of turn.  

Alistair Cook: I think it's brave to bat first. It is hot in Brisbane. If you can get through this first two hours as a batting unit, you're in good shape.  

Former England captain Alastair Cook on BT Sport: I am nervous for the lads. It's the great day of your career. Your senses will be heightened, undercooked but ready to go. 

Steve Harmison: Six weeks ago I was thinking we don't stand much of a chance but the Ben Stokes factor gives us a bit of a favour. It's like Christmas Eve. 

The good news is the Ashes are here. The bad news is, we might get some rain today. 

There are cloudy skies in Brisbane and we are set to see some liquid downfall at some point on day one. Hopefully we can get a full session first...

Hopefully is the key word. I'm here for the next nine hours, we want to be seeing as much cricket as possible.