Ashes opener lives up to hype as England and Australia trade blows at Edgbaston

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow starred for England. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA

England have moved the needle in unprecedented fashion in a whirlwind past year but how a buccaneering approach would fare against a relentless Australia was the big talking point amid all the Ashes hype.

The debate will linger, for while England landed telling blows and left Australia reeling at times, the world Test champions kept dragging the hosts back on an a fluctuating opening day of the LV= Insurance series.