England bat as Ashes gets underway

England won the toss and decided to bat against Australia Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details Xavier Doherty was handed his baggy green by Ricky Ponting © Getty Images Enlarge Related Links Matches: Australia v England at Brisbane Series/Tournaments: England tour of Australia Teams: Australia | England After all the build-up and hype the Ashes series has arrived and Andrew Strauss has had his first success by winning the toss which enabled England to bat first in the Gabba. Ricky Ponting said he would have done the same, although expected some early assistance for the quicks on a surface with a green tinge. After recent rain in Brisbane there may have been temptation to bowl first, but Strauss has backed his batsmen to produce a strong performance. The general consensus is that this is England's best chance to win in Australia since Mike Gatting's tour in 1986-87. The Australians have a few problems with key players fighting for their places and more juggling of the XI by the selectors. However, don't for one minute underestimate the challenge of winning down under. It's a monumental task for Strauss and his team. Australia have a formidable record at home, and especially at the Gabba where they haven't lost since 1988. England broke a hoodoo in 2009 at Lord's, winning against Australia for the first time in 75 years, but victory on this ground would be an even greater feat. England's starting XI was nailed on from the moment they arrived in Australia and the impressive performances of the back-up attack in Hobart last week was never going to change their plans. It was the home side who had the major headaches but confirmed their line-up yesterday after preferring Peter Siddle ahead of Doug Bollinger while Michael Clarke has recovered from his back problem. Siddle is playing is first Test since January, but the most interesting name in Australia's bowling unit is the debutant Xavier Doherty who is the latest option the selectors have plucked out to try and fill the spin-bowling hole. He has a first-class average of 48, but in recent times has enjoyed some success for Tasmania and took four wickets on his ODI debut against Sri Lanka last month. Kevin Pietersen's problems against left-arm spin - he fell to Steve O'Keefe in the Australia A match - will also have had a significant bearing on Doherty's selection ahead of Nathan Hauritz. Australia 1 Simon Katich, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Mike Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Xavier Doherty, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus England 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ian Bell, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn