Siddle, Wade return as Aussies make six changes

Session times: 8pm–10pm | 10.40–12.40am | 1am–3am (all times AEST)

The 2019 Ashes will be broadcast live in Australia on the Nine Network while ABC Grandstand will provide radio coverage via cricket.com.au and the CA Live app

Peter Siddle, Matt Wade and Cameron Bancroft have been named to make their Test returns in the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston, where the visitors will bat first after skipper Tim Paine won the toss.

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Australia XI: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Wade, Tim Paine (c & wk), James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon

England XI: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson

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Siddle edged out Josh Hazlewood for the final fast-bowling spot to form a three-prong pace attack with Victorian James Pattinson and world No.1 Test bowler Pat Cummins.

The Australians arrived at Edgbaston this morning without knowing the final XI, before one last look at the pitch by coach Justin Langer and national selector Trevor Hohns convinced them to give Siddle the nod over Hazlewood.

"Peter Siddle is playing, that's one that was up in the air but he's got the nod. We think he's a class performer here," Paine said at the toss. 

"We've got six changes from the last Test. It was difficult to leave them (Starc, Hazlewood) out, they've been quality performers for a long time. They'll play a part at some stage of the series, there's no doubt about that.

"We spoke about getting the right combination to take 20 wickets and we think Peter Siddle complements the others we've picked really nicely.

"(Smith, Warner and Bancroft) are back in team because they've earned it, they're quality players and quality people, and we're thrilled to have them in our team.

"The pitch looks nice and hard and dry, and hopefully we can post a good total in the first innings and then we've got Nathan Lyon up our sleeve for the back end.”

Bancroft leapfrogs incumbent opener Marcus Harris at the top of the order to partner David Warner, who with Bancroft and Steve Smith, will play his first Test since Cape Town in March 2018.

Image Id: 879CCE80F5554F6EA0B595565E1E64FC Image Caption: Hazlewood and Starc have both missed out on selection // Getty

Wade was the final selection piece to fall into place. The 31-year-old will play as a specialist batsman at No.6 having last played Test cricket in Bangladesh in September 2017. He earned his recall by piling on runs in domestic cricket and for Australia A in the preceding tour of England.

In total, there are six changes to the XI that thrashed Sri Lanka by 366 runs in Canberra last February, with Harris, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Kurtis Patterson, Jhye Richardson and Mitch Starc all replaced.

England captain Joe Root announced his side on match eve, with veteran seam bowler James Anderson returning after missing last week's Test against Ireland at Lord's due to a calf injury.

There was no room in the XI for World Cup hero Jofra Archer, who will continue to build his workloads with the red Dukes ball to be ready later in the series if called upon.

Edgbaston has been a fortress for England over the past decade having won their past 11 matches across all formats at the venue while being undefeated in more than a decade in Test match cricket.

Australia XI: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Wade, Tim Paine (c), James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon

England XI: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval