..::The wait is over: the Ashes are underway at Lord's : Olympics 2012 ::..
One of the biggest events in the British sporting calendar has begun as England take on Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground.
The first Test of the eagerly-anticipated Ashes series has attracted a capacity crowd to Lord's, which would host Archery events in the summer of 2012.
Players from both teams spoke of their excitement ahead of the start of play at one of the world's great sporting venues.
England skipper Michael Vaughan said he hoped his team would be inspired by the prospect of hosting the Australians at the home of cricket.
"Playing Australia on any stage is the pinnacle of your career, but playing them at Lord's is what you dream about," he said.
Vaughan's counterpart Ricky Ponting added: "Every Australian cricketer likes playing here. Just walking round the ground has a great feel to it."
And Aussie fast-bowler Brett Lee told the BBC Sport website: "This is the big occasion, it's at the home of cricket and before the first ball is bowled, whoever is bowling it, you will be able to hear a pin drop in the crowd.
"It gives me goosebumps just to even think about it."
England and Australia first played each other at Lord's in 1884, and the quadrennial fixture is one of the highlights of the sporting summer.
The home side's last success over the Aussies at Lord's came in 1934, but English hopes of regaining the Ashes for the first time since 1987 are high.
More than 150 fans queued overnight for the chance to purchase tickets reclaimed from touts and internet auction sites.
Tickets for the first four days of all five Tests matches in the Ashes series have already been sold out.
Fans not lucky enough to get tickets for the match will be able to watch all of the action on giant screens in Regent's Park - venue for the Road Cycling events in 2012.
21 July 2005
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