The Ashes Recap: Follow the action from Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England

SHOT! Overpitched and Head crashes four through the covers for the first confident shot of the morning.

FOUR MORE! Not quite as well timed but the result is the same with another four into the covers.

Works a single into the legside as Carse straightens.

Runs for Weatherald as Carse overpitches again and he drives striaght past the bowler for two.

BANG! Overpitched and Weatherald cashes in this time to make it 15 off the over!

Carse all over the place in helpful conditions.

Jackson Barrett is our man at the ground this morning as he summed up the conditions

It’s unusually and unseasonally cold at the MCG today, with a top of 17 degrees forecast. But the good news is there’s little sign of rain on the radar so we should get away with a full day’s play, albeit under overcast skies.

Early signs are there’s plenty in the wicket for the bowlers. Gus Atkinson made better use of it than Brydon Carse, but Travis Head has found it tough going early on with the ball nipping around off a length.

The Barmy Army are in full voice this morning, packing out the area in and around bay 13, which is normally an Australian stronghold. The crowd looks around 80 per cent full to start the day, including a jam-packed MCC members reserve. The queue to get into the members area snaked through Yarra Park this morning.

Weatherald plays out a maiden to Atkinson.

Weatherald fences one to gully where Jacob Bethell, in the team to replace Ollie Pope, makes a good diving stop but they scamper a single.

In the air, but safe as Head flicks two off the pads to vacant square leg.

Down the legside and there’s half an appeal but it’s all pad.

Atkinson is honing in on his line and length as he pushes closer to the top of off, but not enough to make Weatherald play.

Runs for Wetaherald. Gets a fuller ball which he pushes into the covers for two.

On the hip and jabbed to fine leg for one.

Carse from the other end.

He’s down the legside, and four byes come off Head’s pads.

“They have to be on the money early here,” Ricky Ponting muses.

Head goes after a short ball but it goes under his bat.

Down the leg side and another flick missed.

Gus Atkinson is bowling to Travis Head.

A reminder Jofra Archer is out for the rest of the series, he leaves the first outside off.

Down the legside, and Head misses the flick.

Moves in to cut Head in half, but bounces off the body.

Popped up into the legside! But lands safe, plenty of movement early doors.

CLOSE! Under edge past the stumps sees the first run of the morning.

Weatherald leaves the last.

It’s been a disastrous tour for England so far but it didn’t dampen their Christmas cheer

Jhye Richardson four years in the injury wilderness is over with Steve Smith confirming he and Michael Neser are in the squad with Brendan Doggett missing out.

“Nice to be back...I would have [bowled]. Does look like it could do a bit, so batters will need to be on their game.”

Interesting call on Neser who can play a spinner-like role bowling a heap of overs while others work around him with neither side picking a spceialist spinner.

It will be his first red ball Test while Richardson has not played since the second Test of the 2021/22 Ashes

Merry Christmas!

Welcome to our Ashes coverage of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Christmas came early for Australia who have already secured the Ashes but there’s still World Test Championship points on the line.

The Early news is England have won the toss and will bowl first in overcast conditions and a greenish looking deck.

“Nice coverage of grass,” says Ben Stokes. “Now it’s about executing the plans.”