'Ridiculous': Ashes fans fume over controversial change

Amid the sea of boos and chants of "cheats" towards Australia's opening batsmen, there was another issue angering cricket fans at the start of the Ashes series.

Previously banned Aussie duo Cameron Bancroft and David Warner were given a hostile reception at Edgbaston after Australian skipper Tim Paine won the toss and decided to have first crack on the Edgbaston deck.

While most of the cricket world's eyes were on two of the culprits from the infamous 'sandpapergate' scandal, many fans were having a hard time getting too grips with something particularly evident during the pre-match national anthems.

Both teams lined up arm-in-arm out in the centre at Edgbaston with their surnames accompanying giant numbers on the back of the player's white shirts.

Traditionally, Test cricket whites have featured little more than a country's crest and a player number on the top of the shirts.

However, the break from tradition had been flagged well before the start of Ashes series, with cricket officials hoping a football-style look would equate to a better viewer experience, particularly for fans not as familiar with all of the players.

However, the controversial change led to plenty of purists venting their disapproval on social media.

Public enemy No.1 falls cheaply

Warner endured a barrage of boos in a brief but eventful spell at the crease in the opening Ashes Test.

Playing in his first Test since the infamous sandpaper affair in South Africa, the Australian opener was jeered on his way to the middle with fellow Cape Town perpetrator Bancroft by the feisty England fans.

With the tourists winning the toss and opting to bat, the duo faced a probing spell from veteran quicks Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson.

Warner was given a life from the first ball he faced when he got a faint edge into the gloves of Jonny Bairstow.

Despite a big appeal from Broad, Joe Root opted against reviewing the not out decision much to the chagrin of the locals when it was shown on the big screen.

Those jeers ramped up again minutes later when Warner, who was batting outside of his crease, was given a stern talking to by umpire Aleem Dar for walking on middle of the pitch.

"Same old Warner, always cheating," sang the crowd in the Hollies Stand as Dar continued his lecture.

Broad, long legs pumping and with a reputation for believing every ball he's ever delivered should be given out, went up again when the ball thumped into the pads of Warner.

Stung by their failure to look at the earlier decision, England went upstairs to New Zealand umpire Chris Gaffney but Warner survived again as the hosts burned a review with the DRS technology showing the ball was going over the stumps.

However the Sydneysider's luck finally ran out four deliveries later when Dar raised his finger to another lbw appeal from Broad.

Despite the ball looking suspiciously like it was angling down leg side, Warner walked off with two runs to his name and without consulting with Bancroft to a chorus of 'cheerio cheerio' from the sandpaper-waving Birmingham fans.

Broad then removed Bancroft for eight after the Aussie edged one to the slips.

Once again, the crowd voiced their disapproval of the batsman as he made his way back to the pavilion.

Bancroft's departure paved the way for the third and final member of 'sandpapergate' Steve Smith to enter the fray.

Aussie selectors have made six changes to the Australian XI that crushed Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval in February.

Warner, Bancroft, Smith, Matthew Wade, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle were called up in place of Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Kurtis Patterson, Mitchell Starc and Jhye Richardson.

Australia haven't won a Test at Edgbaston since 2001, the same year of their most recent Test series win in England.

Joe Root named England's XI on match eve, confirming Anderson will return from injury.

The hosts opted against handing Test a debut to express paceman Jofra Archer, who is still recovering from a side strain.

England: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (capt), Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson.

Australia: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.

With AAP