Birmingham, July 30: Openers Simon Katich and Shane Watson, who was brought in for Phillip Hughes, ensured Australia had a strong start on Day One of the rain-affected third Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston here on Thursday.

Australia were 86/1 in 20 overs with Katich out leg-before to off-spinner Graeme Swann for 46 off 48 after putting on 85 runs with Watson, who was unbeaten on 39.

Earlier, Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first here on Thursday. In a match where rain had washed out the first two sessions, England made one change to the team that won the second Test by 115 runs — their first Ashes victory at Lord’s in 75 years — to go 1-0 up with three to play.

Ian Bell, returning to England duty on his Warwickshire home ground, replaced Kevin Pietersen after the South Africa born batsman was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes with a longstanding Achilles injury. Australia sprang a surprise by dropping opening batsman Hughes and bringing in all-rounder Watson in his place.

They were also forced into a late change after wicket-keeper Brad Haddin sustained a suspected broken fourth finger of his left hand in the warm-up. He was replaced by 30-year-old South Australia keeper Graham Manou, who was making his Test debut.

Australia had to seek permission from England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andrew Flower to alter their side after including Haddin in the team named at the toss.

Four years ago at Edgbaston, Australia saw fast bowler Glenn McGrath pulled out after injuring himself his ankle in the warm-up in a Test that England eventually won by just two runs.

Hughes was omitted after scoring just 57 runs in three innings this series, having struggled against short-pitched fast bowling during the first two Tests. He took the unusual step of confirming he’d been dropped by making an announcement on his page on Twitter, the internet micro-blogging service.

Last weekend Watson, whose inclusion bolsters Australia’s seam attack, scored 84 and 50 in a tour match against Northamptonshire. But in eight Tests the 28-year-old Queenslander has scored just 257 runs at a low average of under 20 and, as an opener, has a first-class average of a mere 6.5.

However, Australia did keep faith with fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. So far in this series the struggling left-arm quick has taken eight wickets for 331 runs at an expensive average of 41 apiece.

Ponting went into this match needing just 25 more runs to become his country’s leading Test match run-scorer and so surpass retired former skipper Allan Border’s mark of 11,174 runs. — Agencies