Cricket: Warner takes the fight to England

Australia's David Warner plays a shot on the first day of the series-opening Ashes test between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Photo / AP

David Warner showed intent from the first ball he faced from Stuart Broad on Thursday, taking the fight to England on day one of the Ashes series in Brisbane.

But on the stroke of lunch, England's villainous fast bowler Stuart Broad fought back from a jeering crowd and Warner's boundaries to dismiss Shane Watson and balance proceedings with Australia 2-71 at the break.

Warner started off in emphatic style, pulling Broad (2-30) to the fence, and followed that up by dispatching James Anderson through the covers the first time he faced the England spearhead.

When spinner Graeme Swann came on in the 18th over, Warner hit him over his head for a booming four two balls later.

Warner survived a testing time early after opening partner Chris Rogers nicked to gully for 1, before Watson threw his wicket away, prodding at a ball he didn't need to play at outside off stump.

Michael Clarke faced three balls to be 0 not out, with Warner unbeaten on 42 from 68 deliveries, with six fours.

Watson looked in good touch in his 59-run stand with Warner, but his exit for 22 was a major breakthrough for the visitors after losing the toss on a belting batting deck.

Feisty left-hander Warner has been in superb form at domestic level, blasting four centuries in the space of three weeks for NSW.

But it's been a year since Warner scored a ton at Test level and there was a point to prove at the Gabba, with the pressure on him after a year of off-field trouble.

Watson put hamstring problems behind him, but once again threw away a solid start to a Test innings.

England suffered a scare in the 21st over, when their star fast bowler Anderson awkwardly dug his knee into the Gabba turf fielding in the deep.

He looked sore at first, but continued on and there would be no repeat of Simon Jones' horrific knee injury back in the 2002 Test in Brisbane.

Broad was the pick of the England bowlers, also getting Rogers with a beauty that bounced.

-AAP