England fight back after Aussies gain early upper hand in Ashes opener

England have recovered to enter lunch at 3/88 after wobbling early against the Aussies in their Ashes opener in Cardiff. 

Josh Hazlewood struck in the second over of the day to get the Aussies off to a perfect start.

Ashes debutant Hazlewood had opener Adam Lyth sharply caught in the gully by David Warner for six. 

The early introduction of off-spinner Nathan Lyon paid dividends too, as English skipper Alastair Cook nicked behind to Brad Haddin for 20.

In the next over, Mitchell Starc had veteran Ian Bell plumb in front for one leaving the home side teetering at 3/43.

It could have been worse for England, with Joe Root narrowly surviving a dropped catch from Haddin just two balls later.

Root recovered from the scare to look the most composed of the batsmen on 33 at the break at better than a run a ball.

Gary Ballance wore a few painful blows from Mitchell Johnson but survived to be 28 at lunch.

Watch every ball LIVE on GEM from 7.30pm (AEST).

LIVE SCORES: Australia vs England

Earlier, England won the toss chose to bat first as the battle for the coveted Ashes urn gets underway.

All-rounder Shane Watson got the nod over the in-form but inexperienced Mitchell Marsh, while veteran opener Chris Rogers returns to the side after being concussed in the Caribbean.

The home XI was predictably unchanged from last month’s series against the Kiwis.

Australia has not won a series on English shores since 2001 but enters the five-Test contest as favourites.

After dismantling and demoralising the English in 2013/14 with a five-nil whitewash, the Aussies enter tonight’s opener in Wales in fine form.

English cricket meanwhile, has undergone a rebuild after that calamitous series, blooding some fresh talent into a side still led by Alistair Cook.

Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad will take the new ball for the home side and the experienced pair will be expected to carry much of the wicket-taking burden.

Young gun Joe Root has assumed an important role in the middle order for England and like Smith, is backed to score heavily this series.

The baby-faced Root, 24, averages more than 54 in Tests and has developed a reputation for scoring big hundreds.

TEAMS

Australia XI: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

England XI: Alastair Cook, Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson