The first Test match of the Ashes 2019 began on Thursday at Edgbaston. It was also the first time that the Aussie trio of Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft took the field together, since the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ controversy in South Africa in 2018.

As expected, all three cricketers received a rude reception from the local crowd. The spectators hurled yellow-coloured sandpaper while the Aussies entered the field for the national anthem. There were several banners as well that reminded the guests of what happened in Cape Town.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and opted bat first. Warner and Bancroft opened the innings but failed to provide a solid start. Both the openers lost their wickets early and the crowd gave the duo a similar treatment by once again waving sandpapers.

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The three cricketers were banned by Cricket Australia after they were seen as the protagonists in a ball-tampering controversy that led to a tectonic shift in Australian cricket.

The defending Ashes champions had an extremely tough time since the trio was banned from international cricket. The team took quite a long time to get back on the track and are currently toiling hard to rebuild the side with all the three cricketers back in the dressing room.