BOWLED OVER
England captain Ben Stokes left in awe with brilliant reaction after first ball of the Ashes
BEN STOKES beamed from ear to ear after Zak Crawley hit a four off the first ball of The Ashes.
Australia captain Pat Cummins delivered the first ball a little too wide, providing Crawley with the perfect opportunity to find a boundary.
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He did exactly that to spark a huge cheer from the Edgbaston crowd, including Stokes.
The England skipper, kitted out in an England bucket hat, was left open-mouthed before a huge grin stretched across his face.
However his joy did not last for long as Josh Hazelwood bowled Ben Duckett for 12 in the fourth over.
Minutes later Crawley almost suffered the same fate, but his edge did not carry to slip.
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England won the toss and decided to bat to kick things off.
And Stokes could play a big role with bat and ball during the first test after revealing he is feeling fitter with the ball in hand.
Stokes has bowled only one over in competitive cricket since February due to a left knee injury but has taken part in practice and said he could be ready against the Aussies.
He said: "I've run in with more intensity day by day. I'm in a really good position to be able to bowl."
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The captain attempted to play down the pressure on his team in the build-up to the first day.
He said: "I am not going to sit here and say it isn't a huge honour to lead England out against Australia in an Ashes series.
"Australia have played some amazing cricket and that reflects on them being World Test champions. I know it's a big deal. I know how much [this series] means to fans and players.
"I think what we have done over the last year is show how we want to play and how we are able to get the best out of the team but also the best out of the individuals.
"You get asked a lot if we are going to continue to play this way against this opposition, against that opposition, but I think we have made it clear this is how England play against any opposition.
"It has worked more than it has not so I don't think there is any question around how we are going to go play our cricket, even though it is against Australia.
"Conditions can dictate how you do that. We will always try and adapt to the conditions but still have that positive mode of going out to have as much fun as possible and always put pressure back on the opposition, no matter who it is. Face the ball, not the man."
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