Stuart Broad takes two early wickets in Ashes opener

Australia have recovered from losing Chris Rogers in just the fourth over of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, reaching 71-2 at the expense of two early Stuart Broad wickets thanks to a 50-plus partnership between David Warner and Shane Watson.

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England wasted little time in claiming the opening wicket as Broad made the early breakthrough to a backdrop of boos from the home crowd, forcing a mistake from Rodgers as he edged to Ian Bell for a routine catch.

The hosts were left to engineer a fightback at 12-1 but had Warner in fine form as he quickly warmed to the task, giving James Anderson little change in a confident early display at The Gabba.

Chris Tremlett helped ease the burden on Broad and Anderson but failed to stop Watson and Warner building an assured second-wicket stand, eventually leading to Graeme Swann's introduction just before lunch.

Moments before lunch Broad struck again as he caught Watson lunging forward with a stray shot, out for 22 as Swann claimed a diving catch to hand the initiative back to England with a timely second wicket.