Skipper Root elects to bat first at the Gabba as Bancroft becomes Test player No.451 while Marsh and Warner overcome injury scares
Marsh, Warner cleared for first Test
Batting duo David Warner and Shaun Marsh have both overcome injury scares and will take their respective places in Australia's side for the first Magellan Ashes Test against England.
There were no late surprises in either XI with the two sides lining up as announced by captains Steve Smith and Joe Root on the eve of hotly-anticipated series-opener at the Gabba.
Root called correctly at the toss, with the visiting skipper electing to bat first on a cloudy morning in Brisbane.
Australia XI: Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith (c), Handscomb, SMarsh, Paine, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon #Ashes%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 22, 2017
England XI: Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root (c), Malan, Moeen, Bairstow (wk), Woakes, Broad, Ball, Anderson #Ashes%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 22, 2017
Marsh, who will bat at No.6, had pulled up with a stiff back after training on Wednesday, joining Warner (stiff neck) as a concern for the hosts and forcing selectors to fly Glenn Maxwell in as standby.
But Marsh batted in the Gabba nets for an extended period this morning against Maxwell's off-spin and along with Warner was passed fit to play in the opening clash of the five-match series.
Shaun Marsh is testing out his stiff back against Glenn Maxwell’s off-spin in Gabba nets #Ashes pic.twitter.com/NjMUIfwpFB%E2%80%94 Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) November 22, 2017
Cameron Bancroft, who will open the batting with Warner, was earlier presented with his Baggy Green from former Test batsman and fellow Western Australian Geoff Marsh, with the 25-year-old becoming the 451st player to play Test cricket for Australia.
Image Id: E86FDD8C6CD54FDBB51F748429027BE8 Image Caption: Bancroft (r) receives his Baggy Green as Paine (l) watches on // GettyWicketkeeper Tim Paine will slot in at No.7 after a seven-year absence from the Test side, rounding out a batting line-up featuring Usman Khawaja at first drop, Smith at four and Peter Handscomb at five.
Thoughts on the Gabba deck? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/EBG0klrDuL%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 22, 2017
The fearsome pace trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will play their first ever Test together, with offie Nathan Lyon the sole spinner in the attack.
Morning Garry 🐐 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/MuYdLeiimu%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 22, 2017
England as expected have picked Jake Ball to round out their four-man pace line-up, with inexperienced batsmen Mark Stoneman, James Vince and Dawid Malan featuring alongside skipper Root and veteran opener Alastair Cook.
Happy #Ashes Day 🙌 pic.twitter.com/2gZva9y38s%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 22, 2017
Stuart Broad and James Anderson are England's spearheads with the ball while off-spinning allrounder Moeen Ali, wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and seamer Chris Woakes will play crucial lower-order roles in the absence of star Ben Stokes.
2017-18 International Fixtures:
Magellan Ashes Series
First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets
Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets
Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets
Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets
Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets
Gillette ODI Series v England
First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets
Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets
Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets
Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets
Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF
Prime Minister's XI
PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets
Gillette T20 INTL Series
First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets
Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets
Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets
Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13
Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16
Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18
Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21