This is the sixth part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

England are still trying to figure out exactly what went wrong at Lord’s, when they catch a big break in momentum; Glenn McGrath turned his ankle on a stray ball during warm-ups, and has been ruled out of the match. With Australia’s dominant bowling attack reduced by one, followed by the result of the toss, the hosts are optimistic about their chances in Birmingham.

Australia win the toss and choose to bowl.

England – Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (c), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wk), Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones

Australia – Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (c), Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz

Morning

England’s openers, Trescothick and Strauss, put together a few boundaries early on, scoring 44 in the first 10 overs. None of the Australian opening bowlers can find a breakthrough that proved so pivotal in previous matches. Both batsmen remain not out at the 20-over mark, with the crowd aware this could turn into a big day. Trescothick gets a half-century off Warne, while Strauss comes extremely close to one for himself as England post 100. However, Warne strikes in the penultimate over of the session, bowling Strauss onto the stumps for 48. In the last over before lunch, Trescothick gets three fours and a six off Lee, showing Australia that just when they thought they had a breakthrough, England wins the morning session easily, at 132/1.

Afternoon

To a degree, Vaughan picks up where Strauss started, contributing useful boundaries and getting 10 in one over off Kasprowicz. Trescothick – who is having his best innings against Australia – gets to the “Nervy Nineties” before edging behind to Gilchrist. Three balls later, Ian Bell is gone, Kasprowicz taking charge of the innings. Vaughan provides stability, eager to score runs while the bowler begin targeting Pietersen. However, Gillespie baits Vaughan into finding Lee at fine leg, and England – who got to 100 without loss – are now 187/4, Australia slowly inching their way back. Pietersen and Flintoff find confidence in boundaries, Freddie taking Warne over the long-on fence for a memorable six. The two continue adding boundaries, Flintoff getting a 50, taking England to 289/4 at tea.

Evening

Gillespie gets Flintoff to edge to Gilchrist with the third ball of the session, while Geraint Jones only manages one run before edging to the keeper himself. Giles hits a boundary off Kasprowicz to take England past 300, with Pietersen happy to provide more fours, and collect his third half-century in as many innings this series. Giles gets to a confident 23 before Warne traps him lbw, showing that the Australians still have the significant edge when it comes to spin bowling. Pietersen gets one more six off Lee before another effort two deliveries later is taken by Katich. Harmison then surprises everyone by taking six and four in consecutive balls, before being bowled by Warne. Hoggard and Simon Jones both do well to reach double digits, following the previous batsmen in taking boundaries. The last partnership takes the hosts to 400, more in this innings then the two at Lord’s put together. Warne gets one more lbw for his fourth wicket, but everyone agrees it’s been England’s day at Birmingham.

After Day 1, England finish their first innings 407 all out.