England vs. Australia, 1st Test: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

England and Australia resume battle on Wednesday as the 2015 Ashes series begins in Cardiff.

The Welsh capital is staging a Test between the two nations for a second time, though it will have to go some to beat the tense finish that occurred back in 2009.

On that occasion, the home side's last-wicket pairing of James Anderson and Monty Panesar managed to hold on for a draw on the fifth and final evening.

Could we see such drama again at the Swalec Stadium? England will be hoping it isn't such a close shave, particularly as they were beaten 5-0 on Australian soil the last time the rivals met in Test action.

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. BST

Venue: Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

Live stream and TV info: Sky Sports (UK), Nine Network (Australia), SKY Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), STAR Sport (India) and NowTV (UK streaming service).

Weather: Per BBC Weather, it will be an overcast start to proceedings before brightening up for the rest of Wednesday. The long-range forecast shows some potential showers on Saturday, but otherwise rain should not be too much of an issue over the five days.

Overview

It is not too long since Australia were last on an Ashes tour in England, but much has changed in the two years since their last visit.

On that occasion, slow, low pitches, an inspired run of form for Ian Bell and a magical spell of bowling from Stuart Broad at Durham helped the hosts clinch a 3-0 series victory.

Back then, Australia were the side going through a period of transition. They had been demolished 4-0 in a Test series in India prior to the tour and, after a poor ICC Champions Trophy, coach Mickey Arthur was sacked.

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Darren Lehmann took over and quickly turned things around. The return series in 2013/14 saw England whitewashed 5-0 to meekly surrender their grip on the urn.

Fast forward to 2015, and England are the team now trying to iron out their plans. They are the ones with fresh faces in their XI, they are the squad under a coach who has had little time to get his feet under the table.

Trevor Bayliss—an Australian who now works for his homeland's fiercest rivals—will be at the helm for his first Test since taking the England job following the departure of Peter Moores.

Bayliss made it clear in his first press conference that it is all about the players this summer, per Ali Martin of the Guardian: “I keep things simple. At the top level it’s about creating a good environment.”

A look at the team that played in the opening Test in 2013 shows how quickly things can change. Matt Prior, Graeme Swann and Jonathan Trott have all since retired, while Kevin Pietersen is in exile.

The experienced quartet were key cogs in a hugely successful side, and replacing them has not been easy.

There were promising signs for England at the start of the summer against the Kiwis, even if the series ended in a 1-1 draw, but facing Australia is completely different.

Australia also look different these days—Mitchell Johnson wasn't even part of the touring squad for the Test leg of the trip in 2013.

Less than six months later, however, he destroyed England on home soil, taking 37 wickets in the 2013/14 series at an average of 13.97.

The left-arm paceman is the leader of a bowling attack that will test this new England, even though they have lost Ryan Harris with a knee injury that has forced him to announce his retirement, per BBC Sport.

Johnson will be joined by another lefty in Mitchell Starc, as well as Josh Hazlewood. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the slow-bowling option.

Australia will choose between the experienced Shane Watson and the in-form Mitchell Marsh for the role of all-rounder, while Chris Rogers is available to open the batting again after missing the series against West Indies due to concussion.

England, meanwhile, will hope their fresh faces are not overwhelmed by being involved in the Ashes.

Opening batsman Adam Lyth cemented himself a chance to play with a century in his second Test appearance against New Zealand at Headingley. He is one of three Yorkshire players in the hosts' top five.

Lyth's county colleague Adil Rashid is also part of the 13-man squad for the game in Wales, though he is in competition with Moeen Ali for the spin-bowling berth.

Key players

England

Alastair Cook faces a big series, not just in terms of his form with the bat but also his captaincy. 

Opening partner Lyth is still learning the ropes in international cricket, while Gary Ballance and Ian Bell both struggled for runs in the two Tests against New Zealand earlier in the summer.

The left-handed Cook, in contrast, has made two hundreds and four half-centuries in his last eight Test knocks. He will be targeted by Australia's bowlers but big scores are the ideal way to lead from the front.

Australia

Johnson was at his devastating best in the last Ashes series, and the England players who had to face him on hard and fast Australian pitches will need to prove there are no long-lasting scars.

His record in England, where he has previously been targeted by the Barmy Army supporters, is not too impressive—he has claimed 23 wickets in seven Tests, averaging 37.73.

However, Australia batsman Adam Voges has warned England that Johnson is firing on all cylinders, per Lawrence Booth of the Mail: "Our net sessions aren’t much fun at all at the moment, to be honest. He’s got his zip back, he’s bowling fast and he’s swinging them as well."

Squads

England

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood

Australia

Michael Clarke (captain), Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wicketkeeper), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson

All stats used in the preview, as well as the squads listed, were from ESPN Cricinfo