By Chirag Mehrotra
- Ashes is taking place at Gabba. The Gabba is known as a seamer’s paradise but it is a place where spinners do damage. Shane Warne’s best record in Australia was here, while Lyon has a good haul of 26 scalps from 6 Tests.
- Alastair Cook opening for the fifth time in the first innings of the first Test of an Ashes series (2009-17) – joint most for any player alongside Mark Taylor (1989-99).
- Most Tests missed between two appearances for Australia:
- 78 TIM PAINE (2010-17)
- 78 Brad Hogg (1996-03)
- 71 Bob Simpson (1968-77)
- 68 Damien Martyn (1994-00)
- 66 Steve Rixon (1978-84)
- 64 Pat Cummins (2011-17)
- 62 Chris Rogers (2008-13)
- 83 by James Vince is the second highest for an England player in his debut innings in Australia batting at number three after George Gunn’s 119 at the SCG in 1907.
