England vs Australia First Ashes Test: Start time, team news and how to follow – hosts seek to reclaim urn but without recognised spinner

England start their mission to reclaim The Ashes this week in the first of five Tests against Australia.

The hosts have won 11 of their first 13 Test matches under the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum partnership, but this will prove to be the sternest challenge so far.

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'Bazball' has been a total success, with England adopting a brutal batting style that has blown most sides away.

However, Australia also possess an incredible batting line-up and will be keen to stamp their authority on England's bowlers as they look to keep hold of the urn for the fourth consecutive series.

England haven't won an Ashes series since 2015 and could only manage a draw on home soil last time out, while their last two trips to Australia have been shambolic.

But the English public have been enthralled by this new national team and positive approach to Test cricket.

England vs Australia first Test: Date and start time

The First Ashes Test will start on Friday, June 16 and is scheduled to run until Tuesday, June 20.

It is being held at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Play is due to start at 11am each day.

England vs Australia first Test: Live stream and TV channel

The action will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket from 10am.

The game will also be available on NOW TV through a day pass for £11.99 or a £9.99 monthly subscription, while Sky Go customers can watch the action on their laptop or mobile device.

talkSPORT will also have regular updates and reaction throughout the Test.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

talkSPORT.com will also keep you covered for all the best stories from Edgbaston.

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England vs Australia: Team news

Moeen Ali has said he would not have come out of Test retirement to play in the Ashes for any other England captain than Stokes.

Moeen has answered England's call after Jack Leach was ruled out of the series with a back injury.

The hosts have a number of concerns to deal with as Jofra Archer has also been ruled out for the summer after a recurrence of a stress fracture in his right elbow.

There are also concerns over Stokes' knee, with the captain's ability to bowl yet to be determined.

Jimmy Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood have all been included in the squad for the first Test but played no part against Ireland in a warm-up game and will have to be managed.

Meanwhile, Australia are without Josh Hazelwood for the World Test Championship against India being held in England, and he is doubtful for the first Test.

This will also be David Warner's last Ashes series as the opener plans to retire from all forms of cricket within the next year.

England squad for first Test: Ben Stokes (c), Ollie Pope (vc), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Dan Lawrence, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Josh Tongue, Moeen Ali

Australia Ashes squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

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England vs Australia: What has been said?

England Test captain Stokes said: "Nothing is going to change because we've had unbelievable success with it.

"If we were to change anything from the last 12 months because we find ourselves in an Ashes series then anything from the last 12 months will have been completely pointless.

"Even before getting together as a Test team for the first time with me as captain, there was one simple thing I said I had to be doing and that was being completely true to myself.

"I had to stay true to how I've gone about things as a player, and do them as a captain. I had 85 or 86 games before I got made captain, and the guys that I've played with knew me as a person and a player.

"So if I became captain and started doing things completely differently to what they knew me for, it would raise a few eyebrows."

2023 Ashes series: Betting with talkSPORT BET

Ashes Odds

To win the series:

England - 5/4

Draw - 6/1

Australia - 11/10