First Ashes Test, Cardiff:
England v Australia (1100 BST start)
LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)
By Jonathan Stevenson
e-mail [email protected] (with ‘For Stevo’ in the subject), text 81111 (with “CRICKET” as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)
**0817:****Click here: Ashes flashback, 1948:**Don Bradman, the greatest batsman who ever lived, is given a phenomenal reception by the crowd at The Oval as he walks to the wicket for his last Test innings. He needed only four runs to finish with a Test average of 100, but was bowled for a second-ball duck to end with an average of 99.94.0813: Everyone has a favourite Ashes memory, and I’m no different. I was lucky enough to be present at the first day of the Edgbaston Test in 2005, a remarkable time to be an England fan as the momentum of the series shifted over the course of the day.
Ashes 2005, report: Second Test, day one](http://www.paklinks.com/sport2/low/cricket/england/4742603.stm)
0809: Fabulous weather-based news comes from BBC Radio 5 Live’s Mark Pougatch in Cardiff: “The sun is rising, it’s a glorious morning on a massive day for Welsh cricket.” Get in.
0807: In roughly 143 minutes, Mr Ben Dirs will be taking over from me in the live text chair. Until that time, I hope you can hit me with all the early-morning banter I could dream of - on email, at [email protected], and on text too, to 81111. At 0900 BST, 606 will open too, completing a stunning hat-trick.0804: Sport doesn’t get a whole lot bigger than this. A mere 1,396 days have passed since England won the Ashes at The Oval in 2005 and since then, we have been counting down to this moment (although apparently there was a series in 2006-07, too). It’s England versus Australia, a rivalry to equal any other on earth.
Gallery: Why the Ashes are such a big deal](http://www.paklinks.com/sport2/low/cricket/8125504.stm)0800: Let me guess - you couldn’t sleep You’ve just been pacing around your bedroom all night, counting down the minutes to the biggest sporting event of the summer Yep, me too. Only 180 to go now, we’re almost there. Happy Ashes, everyone.
England & Australia set for Ashes