Ashes 2019: England thrashed at Edgbaston as Australia go one up in series

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the fifth day of the first Ashes Test.

Jonathan Liew was at Edgbaston for us yesterday and wrote the following report on a frustrating day for England:

Morning morning.

To the fifth day, then, a day many thought might not come. England's nominal target is 398, but today is all about survival.

For all the pre-series talk of two day tests and wicket flurries the Dukes ball has not been quite as garrulous as expected, and all in all it has been a pretty good test for batting, with the pitch dry and flat for the past two days.

But on such wickets high quality spinners can thrive, and Australia's Nathan Lyon is exactly that. There are some fun patches of rough for the off-spinner to target, and with England's propensity for a collapse the Australian attack will know that one wicket might just bring two, and two might just bring ten.

But it is not just the rip and roar of Lyon for England to contend with. In James Pattinson and Pat Cummins Australia possess a crucial extra dimension that the hosts were perhaps lacking during yesterday's more soporific spells - extra pace. High quality hammers and a canny scalpel - just the tools to pry this England batting order open.

For those of you clinging to the faint hopes of a final day washout, I've bad news - it is sunny and dry at Edgbaston, with forecast morning rain yet to arrive, and a quick glance at the rain radars suggesting it may not come at all.

Jason Roy and Rory Burns came through a not-too-troubling seven over burst last night, but today represents a serious challenge of both their psyche and technique, and both looked a touch vulnerable against some of Lyon's more violent tweakers in the evening dusk. 

Work to do, gentlemen. Lots of it, in fact...

But the story of the test so far is, of course, the remarkable Steve Smith, not just back amongst things in test cricket but back at his very best, dual hundreds in an Ashes Test a remarkable achievement. 

But he is a remarkable player, as Adam Collins - a man who has seen more of Smith than most - articulated at the close.

So ten wickets in 90 overs is the equation for Australia today, something that they will be confident of achieving given England's recent (and indeed not so recent) batting returns.

For an England side full of stroke-makers, reining in their natural exuberance might be a little tough. Smith and Matthew Wade showed yesterday that there are few gremlins to truly confuddle a batsman if he plays securely, but they did not have to contend with Nathan Lyon with his tail up and a clear path to victory. 

There are still tickets available today, I believe, if you like having your nerves jangled, and with a little more than 20 minutes until the morning's first ball still just about time to hop in the old Rover and get over to Edgbaston if you do fancy it.

All smiles, but for how long?

Out to the middle stride Jason Roy and Rory Burns with survival the order of the day. England could do with some solidity from these two this morning. A couple go down early and this could be a tumble. 

Swings of the arms and some shadow batting as they wander out, Roy in long sleeves rolled up the forearm, Burns short-sleeved. Australia look up for this, particularly David Warner, who indulges a half-sprint to lead them out as the final notes of Jerusalem sound.

Burns has batted on all five days, a statistical peculiarity. Pat Cummins has the new-ish Dukes ball in his hand. His first over of the innings. Burns to face, three slips, a gully, and your standard new ball fare.

Away we go...