Full preview of the first Ashes Test, including broadcast and live streaming details
The first Test: All you need to know
Form lines
Australia
Australia go into the series on a six-match unbeaten run having put together series wins against India and West Indies, with the small matter of their World Cup triumph in between.
Despite their good recent form, speculation is rife about the make-up of the XI for the first Test, even though the sudden retirement of Ryan Harris has made their pace-bowling selections more clear cut.
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Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are expected to get the nod, with either Nathan Lyon or a fourth frontline seamer in Peter Siddle to join them in the attack.
Chris Rogers is expected to return to the side after missing the series against the Windies due to concussion, with the unlucky Shaun Marsh set to miss out.
The most contentious selection will be the allrounder in the side, with veteran Shane Watson and youngster Mitchell Marsh fighting it out for the No.6 spot.
Marsh is in hot form having plundered centuries in both the recent tour matches, while Watson has experience in English conditions on his side thanks to his role in Australia's 2009 and 2013 tours of the UK.
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Shane Watson battining the day before the Test // cricket.com.au
Australia have been labelled 'Dad's Army' due to the number of veterans in their side. Rogers, Watson, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Adam Voges, Mitchell Johnson and skipper Michael Clarke are well into their 30s, as is uncapped legspinner Fawad Ahmed.
But with age comes experience and most of Australia's squad have tasted English conditions before, giving them an edge over other touring sides to these shores.
England
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The England team photo at Cardiff // Getty Images
England have a good mix of old and new players at their disposal, with the likes of Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Adam Lyth complemented by olds hands like Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson.
Cook's side are coming off consecutive 1-1 series results - away to West Indies and at home to New Zealand - but there's a touch of optimism surrounding the group following their thrilling 3-2 ODI series win over the Black Caps and the appointment of Australian Trevor Bayliss as coach.
England will be hoping Bayliss will be the breath of fresh air they need following the departure of Peter Moores and the short tenure of stand-in coach Paul Farbrace.
Bayliss takes on a fairly settled XI, despite all of England's dramas this year.
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Cook and Bayliss watch their charges train // cricket.com.au
One of Wood or Steven Finn will get the nod to partner Anderson and Broad, while allrounder Moeen Ali is expected to again carry the spin workload despite the presence of uncapped legspinner Adil Rashid in the squad.
Despite the scars of Australia's 5-0 demolition 18 months ago, England will be buoyed by Australia's recent lack of success on British soil.
Australia have won just two of their past 15 Tests in England and haven't won the urn away from Australia since 2001.
Crucial stat
2,813 - The number of Test runs Steve Smith and Joe Root have scored between them since the most recent Ashes series 18 months ago.
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Steve Smith at Cardiff castle // Getty Images
The two baby-faced assassins have established themselves as two of the best batsmen in the world; Smith thriving with his homespun technique that has earned him a promotion to No.3, Root with his back-foot style that has been incredibly effective in all conditions batting at No.5.
Smith has posted six centuries in 11 matches at an average of 93 since the Ashes whitewash, slightly better than Root who has scored four centuries - 200 not out, 154 not out, 149 not out and 182 not out - in 12 matches.
The battle between the world's No.1 and No.7 ranked batsmen could be one that defines this series.
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Joe Root hits out in the Cardiff nets // cricket.com.au
The squads
England
Alastair Cook (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steve Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood
Australia
Michael Clarke (c), Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson
Slo mo vision of the Australian team preparing for the Ashes
How to watch (Australia only)
The Nine Network's coverage begins on July 8 at 7.30pm (AEST).
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Nine’s expert commentary team will feature Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Michael Slater, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Michael Vaughan and David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, with the network covering one of sport’s oldest rivalries with their own team for the first time in almost 20 years.
For those wanting to watch Nine’s coverage via mobile, tablet or desktop you will need to subscribe to Live Pass, which will allow fans to live stream every ball of the Ashes Tests and also the proceeding T20I and five-match ODI series between Australia and England.
Once a fan purchases Live Pass ($4.99 for a Day Pass and $29.99 for a 365 Pass) they can watch the aforementioned matches - and the following T20 and ODI series between Australian and England - on either the Cricket Australia Live app (download on the App Store or get it on Google play) or via cricket.com.au's match centre.
Fans who purchase a 365 Pass will also get access to live streaming for the following upcoming series during the Australian cricket season:
- Commonwealth Bank Test series vs New Zealand
- Commonwealth Bank Test series vs West Indies
- KFC Big Bash League
- Victoria Bitter ODI Series vs India
- KFC T20 INTL Series vs India
Purchase a Live Pass here, or click on the image below.
Listen in with the ABC
ABC Grandstand coverage will start at 7.05pm AEST tonight, and at 7.30pm AEST for the remaining days of the first Test.
The ABC has an agreement with the BBC's Test Match Special, with Australian cricket broadcasting icon Jim Maxwell a feature of the Ashes commentary team.
Listeners can follow through the Cricket Australia Live app, through the cricket.com.au live match centre, online wtih ABC Grandstand, on Grandstand Digital around the country or the ABC's Grandstand app.
The social Ashes
For those wanting to follow the #Ashes on social media, connect with the following pages for the best exclusive coverage and behind the scenes images and videos featuring the Australian Cricket Team:
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Cricket.com.au: Like here
On July 8, the Australian Cricket Team and England Cricket begin the 'ultimate in Test cricket'. This will give you goosebumps...
Posted by cricket.com.au on Thursday, June 18, 2015
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Snapchat
Add 'cricketcomau' on Snapchat for behind-the-scenes coverage of the #Ashes! pic.twitter.com/YMorkMM6oL
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