Ashes: Ben Stokes is left gobsmacked after Zak Crawley smashed Pat Cummins for four

Zak Crawley made an emphatic opening statement in the first Test of the Ashes, and it’s fair to say captain Ben Stokes was very impressed with his Birmingham opener.

Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first on a batsman-friendly wicket at Edgbaston, with the hosts looking to prove their new attacking form of cricket – dubbed ‘Bazball’ – is the real deal.

And Crawley got off to a perfect start as he served Australia captain Pat Cummins for four from the very first ball of the series.

It’s a stark contrast to the first pitch of the previous series Down Under, when Mitchell Starc dismissed Rory Burns at the Gabba.

Stokes’ jaw dropped as he watched from the balcony, a reaction that left fans in the lurch.

However, the Aussies hit back and it was the recalled Josh Hazlewood who got the breakthrough, dismissing Ben Duckett for 12 runs after he flashed for a wide ball and slid to Alex Carey.

England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to bat first is the first time he has done so in a home Test, with the team generally favoring a chase in the fourth innings.

But Edgbaston’s wicket looks level and there will be clear skies over Birmingham on Friday.

“Looks like a really good wicket, a good throw to win, but now we need to go out and put some runs on the board,” said Stokes.

Boland had not previously been selected in a full-strength Australian attack, as all seven of his previous Tests had been played with Hazlewood injured.

But the incredible start to his career has left him almost unstoppable, having taken 33 wickets at an average of 14.57.

Hazlewood has been limited to four Tests in the past two years, after battling a string of side-load injuries and an Achilles tendon problem.

But his control in England and the promise of a new body not competing in last week’s World Test Championship victory over India at The Oval would have been a lure for selectors.