Heavy overnight rain means there is no prospect of the third Ashes Test starting on time and further showers force fans to shelter under umbrellas at soggy Edgbaston
England manage to warm-up in between the rain with Andrew Flintoff being put through his paces, a great sight for England fans hoping his dodgy knee will be up to the rigours of a five-day match
Australia opt to chuck an Australian Rules football around to loosen up, Phillip Hughes (left) has other things on his mind though as he announced on Twitter he had been dropped from the team
A groundsman gets to work with a Blotter, which mops up the puddles at the Birmingham ground
Umpires Aleem Dar (left) and Rudi Koertzen (centre) discuss with fourth umpire Tim Robinson the state of the pitch and decide that muddy patches mean there will be no play before lunch on the first day
England captain Andrew Strauss enjoys a cup of tea as he inspects the ground with coach Andy Flower
Strauss is back out again at 1545 BST, this time with Australia skipper Ricky Ponting and the umpires in tow. The news is better - there will be a further inspection at 1615 BST, with the toss 15 minutes later
At 1630, to the cheers of the patient crowd, the captains re-appear for the toss. Strauss flips and Ponting calls right - unlike four years ago, he decides to have a bat first at Edgbaston, under now glorious sunshine
The action starts at 1700 and Andrew Flintoff immediately tears into Shane Watson, who is back in the Australian side at the expense of Hughes and opening the batting for the first time in a Test match
Simon Katich survives an early shout for lbw against James Anderson, but the Australians begin promisingly with England's attack in relatively unthreatening mood
The Australians are soon enjoying themselves and Watson's flashing blade reaps him boundary after boundary as he flails England's bowlers to all parts of Edgbaston. Not an opener?
England turn to off spinner Graeme Swann and in his first over Simon Katich mis-times a pull shot, gets hit on the pad and is given out for 46 by umpire Aleem Dar, much to the home team's delight
Watson carries on regardless after the loss of his opening partner and he shows impressive shot selection to reach a well-deserved half-century, ending the day on 62 not out from 105 balls
Watson and his captain Ricky Ponting comfortably survive the final overs of the session and Australia head back to the dressing-room on 126-1, ready to push ahead the following day
What are these?
Print Sponsor
E-mail this to a friend 
Bookmark with:
What are these?