England vs Australia 1st Test at Cardiff

Cardiff: England captain Andrew Strauss believes all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's chequered history against Australia will work in his side's favour when the first Ashes Test gets underway on Wednesday.

Flintoff was the star of England's 2005 series win over their oldest foes but in 2006/07 he was captain when the team were thrashed 5-0 in Australia.

The injury-plagued all-rounder returned to the squad just over a week ago following a knee problem but caused fresh embarrassment by missing the bus for a trip to World War I battlefield sites.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting wants his inexperienced pace attack to make their mark in Ashes history after fast bowler Brett Lee was ruled out of the first Test against England.

Lee was forced to withdraw less than 48 hours before Wednesday' series opener with England here at Sophia Gardens after damaging an abdominal muscle in his left side.

Now the 32-year-old, who has taken 310 wickets in 76 Tests, could be out until at least the third match of the series at Edgbaston.

His absence means Australia will go into Wednesday's match with an attack where no-one has yet bowled a ball in Test cricket in Britain.

However, Australia know about life without Lee.

Foot and ankle surgery after the 2008 Boxing Day Test loss to South Africa in Melbourne ruled him out of this year's return series in South Africa.

But the likes of left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson helped inspire Australia to a 2-1 away series win and now Ponting is looking for more of the same.

Team news
England: All of England's players are fit so they have to trim two men from their squad. Ian Bell should remain on the fringe and the final choice for the bowling place will be between Monty Panesar and Graham Onions. Panesar had a much longer workout in the nets than Onion on Tuesday.

Australia: Lee's stomach injury has seriously disrupted Australia's plans and leaves a delicate choice for the tourists. Picking Nathan Hauritz alongside Johnson, Siddle and Clark is the most orthodox option, even though the offspinner has found county batsmen a challenge in the two warm-ups. Ben Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald will also have their cases pushed and all the combinations carry an element of risk.

Pitch and conditions
Ponting expects the pitch to have some moisture at the start, providing "slow-ish seam and trampoline" bounce, but he believes it will turn. The pitch spent most of Monday morning under the covers and when it was revealed in the afternoon there was not much green on the strip. Less colour was on show on Tuesday.

Andrew Strauss said it looked like a good pitch, but one that would not offer much pace or bounce. "There will be a little bit in it for everyone," he said, "and that's the sort of wicket we were hoping to see." The weather has been unpredictable, with rain and sun fighting for attention, and more wet conditions are predicted for the end of the week.

Stats and trivia

• In 300 Ashes Tests England have won 95; Australia have been successful in 121
• It is 1410 days since England won their last Ashes Test, at Trent Bridge in 2005
• None of Australia's fast bowlers have played a Test in England
• Allan Border was the last Australian captain to lose two Ashes series when his sides were beaten in 1985 and 1986-87
• Australia must win the contest to keep the No. 1 Test rating

Match facts
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Start time 11.00am (10.00 GMT)

Highlights of the match