Australia lost wickets in bunches post lunch but Steve Smith impressed everyone on his Test return as he completed his 25th Test half-century. Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes picked up two wickets apiece in the mid-session. At tea, Australia were 154/8. In the first session, England’s opening bowling pair of James Anderson and Broad bowled probing lines, making full use of the overcast conditions at Edgbaston in the Ashes opener on Thursday. Broad soon earned reward for bowling tight lines in form of David Warner who fell cheaply for two. The replay suggested the ball would have missed the stumps but Warner didn’t challenge the on-field decision. Cameron Bancroft, playing for the first time for the national side after completing his ban, did play some good shots but couldn’t capitalise on the start and fell to Broad on eight runs. Woakes, who was introduced by Root as first-change, struck to get rid of Usman Khawaja for 13. Steve Smith and Travis Head then steadied the Australian innings. Like, Khawaja and Bancroft, Smith also opened his account in style with a boundary. Travis Head took 16 balls to get off the mark but after that he played some good shots to quick score runs. Smith and Head ensured they do not loose anymore wickets and took their side to 83/3 at lunch on Day 1.
