Ashes 2021-22 fifth Test, day one: Australia v England – live!

21th over: Australia 79-3 (Labuschagne 44, Head 27) The Labuschagne/Head Partnership is now 67. The Aussies looked gone for all money after ten overs but they’ve now taken full control.

20th over: Australia 77-3 (Labuschagne 42, Head 27) Marnus steps down a green, seaming wicket and contemptuously flicks Woakes over mid-wicket for six. He’s seeing them a treat.

19th over: Australia 71-3 (Labuschagne 37, Head 26) Wood is quickly taken off, after conceding 31 from three wobbly overs. A much tighter over from the relieving Broad.

18th over: Australia 68-3 (Labuschagne 37, Head 23) The pitch may be green, but the outfield is outrageously quick. It’s clearly a tough wicket to get a start on, but there’s runs to be had once you get your eye in. The lights are now on, the two Aussies are flaying ‘em, and the visitors are getting frustrated.

17th over: Australia 65-3 (Labuschagne 37, Head 20) An hour ago, it looked like Australia could have be bowling by sundown. But Labuschagne and Head have wrested back control here. Stoakes and Wood, teammates at County level, need to get their act together. And England will be ruing dropping Marnus on nought. He’s now 37 from as many balls.

16th over: Australia 50-3 (Labuschagne 26, Head 16) Woakes replaces Robinson and immediately cops a pounding from Head. He’s an old school dasher and is very lucky not to balloon a stinker of a shot to Stokes. You certain do take the good with the bad with Head! Marnus then creams a gift from Woakes for his sixth four. England have to be careful not to cough up their early advantage.

15th over: Australia 41-3 (Labuschagne 22, Head 11) A superb boundary saving dive from Stokes certainly tested his beaten-up body. He looked a little proppy pulling up, but when hasn’t he this summer? Head is now having a dash at Wood, who may not be suited to these conditions. These two Aussies are holding up ok here. Marnus has five boundaries and is looking a treat.

14th over: Australia 30-3 (Labuschagne 17, Head 5) Robinson is probing, and the ball is still zinging all over the place. He’s going at 15-2 off seven overs – outstanding bowling. But he’s finally getting the wobbles and may need a rest.

13th over: Australia 29-3 (Labuschagne 17, Head 4) Enter Mark Wood, who, to pardon the worst of puns, has the wood on the Aussie Number 3, having sent him packing at their past three meetings. Stuff you, says Marnus, who immediately flicks a half volley off leg for 4. Time for drinks.

12th over: Australia 24-3 (Labuschagne 13, Head 3) Robinson is eyeing off these two like they’re giant pork chops. But Marnus isn’t the circumspect type and immediately dispatches him to the mid-off boundary. Wonderful, entertaining cricket from both men.

11th over: Australia 17-3 (Labuschagne 9, Head 0) It’s hard going for batsmen and it’s hard going for live bloggers! I hope our English readers just emerging from their slumber are enjoying this skittle-fest. These are decidedly English conditions and they’re revelling in it. But Labuschagne, who has a remarkable record in first innings, is showing a lot of pluck with a sumptuous 4 off Broad.

10th over: Australia 12-3 (Labuschagne 5, Head 0) Welcome back to Test cricket Travis Head! The ball is pinging all over the place right now.

Robinson gets the star Aussie second ball. He’s moving it both ways, and the Aussies are all at sea right now. Carnage.

Broad tempts him, and the skipper gobbles it up. Australia are in all sorts here. Superb stuff from the opening quicks.

8th over: Australia 7-1 (Labuschagne 0, Khawaja 6) Marnus leaves his opening ball that misses off stump by the proverbial bee’s buttock. He’s then flirts at one outside off, which Crawley spills at second slip after leaping right in the way of his captain. Robinson is in his element out there.

7th over: Australia 7-1 (Labuschagne 0, Khawaja 6) Khawaja is starting to get in his groove, punishing a couple of loose Broad ones. We’re half an hour in and we’ve had just the three scoring shots. Slow going.

A peach of a ball from Robinson and nice safe hands from Crawley. Warner never looked comfortable and he finally succumbs after 22 scoreless balls.

5th over: Australia 3-0 (Warner 0, Khawaja 2) Yet another maiden. Warner has faced 16 balls without a run, but he’s much better at batting ugly these days.

4th over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 0, Khawaja 2) It’s tight, tough cricket but the pitch is not as treacherous as it may have appeared an hour ago. Nonetheless, Robinson’s fifth ball moves a mile.

3rd over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 0, Khawaja 2) Broad changed boots and immediately tempts Warner well outside off stump, and very nearly has him chopping on several balls later. Runs are clearly going to be hard earned here. We’re going to miss these Broad/Warner battles.

2nd over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 0, Khawaja 2) Robinson starts bang on target, beating Khawaja’s bat straight up. But a lovely flick off leg from Khawaja gets things ticking.

1st over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Khawaja 0) Bit of a wacky start as Broad barrels head-first into the pitch after his first ball. A maiden to kick things off for the quick, in what will surely be his final Test in Australia. What a wonderful cricketer he’s been.

A beautiful Welcome to Country, which includes a shout out to Scott Boland (“his success will not only inspire emerging cricketers but give merit to coaches, supporters and administrators who have battled to ensure pathways are created for First Nations people, sporting pathways and pathways to reconciliation”) and then two cracking renditions of the respective national anthems. Ceremonial duties are completed and we’re ready to go.

Play to begin at 3:30pm, local time.

As expected, just the one change for the Australians, with Travis Head replacing Marcus Harris, and Usman Khawaja moving up the order. He has an incredible record as an opener but this will be some sort of challenge.

A host of changes for England. No Anderson, who was born to bowl on pitches like this. Jonny Bairstow didn’t come up. A Test debut for Sam Billings, currently the keeper for the Sydney Thunder, and England’s 700th Test cap.

Some extraordinary footage here. If rain persists, I’ll link to the longer clip where Beefy is interrogated for an hour by a bunch of angry 9-year-old Scots – up there with the funniest thing I’ve seen on the internet.

In this chilly climes, Brendan from Sydney reminds us that Onslow in Western Australia yesterday recorded Australia’s hottest ever temperature – 50.7 degrees. Not sure how our English readers would cope with that. Not ideal conditions for swing bowing either.

It’s raining. It’s Tasmania. But it doesn’t look too nasty. The 3pm start may be in peril, but the weather boffins remain confident the rain shouldn’t be too much of a factor today.

And here’s Ali Martin, who’s been in fine fettle throughout the series, on an England team shambling to the end of a rough tour.

To kick things off, here’s a wonderfully evocative piece from Geoff Lemon on Tasmania; just how beautiful it is, just how cold it is (by Australian standards!) and just what this Test match means to the locals.