A superb century from Joe Root, his first against Australia since 2015, helped England race to 393/8 before declaring on the opening day of the first Ashes Test, a move that did not bear fruit as the visitors held firm to finish on 14/0 at stumps.

While there were a few shouts from a crowd spoiled for excitement overall, David Warner and Usman Khawaja looked comfortable to set things up for Day II nicely.

It was a bold move to declare after 78 overs of a first innings, the earliest any team has ever declared in an Ashes series, but it's not out of character for this team. That is now five first innings declarations from England in 14 Tests.

A thrilling opening day, however, belonged to Root, who, as all eyes were on England's free-scoring batters to see whether they would stick with their attacking principles, proved his more reserved approach is still as effective as "Bazball".

Bairstow was one of the four wickets that Nathan Lyon claimed on the opening day of the first Ashes Test between England and Australia. Getty Images

"Once Joe had got his 100, there were quite a few shots being played, so we sort of sensed it (the declaration) was coming," Australia's Josh Hazlewood said.

"That's just the way they are playing cricket at the moment. We are still pretty happy."

Watchful aggression

Many experts predicted in-form England, who had scored at almost five runs per over in 11 Test wins from 13 under Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes, would struggle to still score freely in an Ashes series against such a strong Australian bowling attack.

But such doubts were quickly put to bed as Zak Crawley hammered a boundary off the first ball of the innings. It was in stark contrast to the first ball of the last Ashes series, when Mitchell Starc clean bowled England opener Rory Burns, ahead of Australia's rampant 4-0 success.

Root joined Crawley at the crease after the dismissals of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, with Crawley reaching his 50 off just 56 balls, only to get a glove on what was the final delivery before lunch.

Harry Brook, who has been at the forefront of this new attacking approach for England having scored four centuries in seven Test matches prior to the start of the Ashes, raced onto 32 off 37 balls before a blocked shot looped back over his head and onto the stumps in freakish fashion.

Stokes's demise was all his own doing, however, as Hazlewood, who impressed with the ball on what was his fourth international Test appearance in two-and-a-half years, found the captain’s edge with only one run on the scoreboard.

Root, who was given out just before tea only for the Decision Review System to come to his rescue, carried on ticking along as other team-mates came and went.

There were elements of the required aggression under McCullum, with four of the hosts' five sixes in the innings coming from Root's bat.

A flick off the legs for a single was all that was needed to see him over the line for his 30th international career century, before the shackles really came off, with two sixes in one over persuading Stokes to put Australia in earlier than everyone in attendance expected.

'Good day' for hosts

Australia had briefly threatened to take control of the first day, but a 121-run partnership between Root and Jonny Bairstow lifted England out of possible trouble.

While Root mixed caution with aggression to reach the three-figure mark, his Yorkshire clubmate Bairstow made a run-a-ball 78 before being dismissed by Lyon. They had joined forces when England were on 176/5.

Bairstow was in proper “Bazball” mood as the England wicketkeeper-batter smashed 12 boundaries during his entertaining stay at the crease.

Speaking after the end of day's play, Bairstow's words revealed that the home team was quite satisfied with how things went.

"Overall it's been a good day. The intent the guys showed... Zak's first shot of the day was in stark contrast to last time. The crowd's been on good form and we really enjoyed it," Bairstow said.

"If the ball's there to be hit, you hit it. The lads are out there with a smile on their faces, from the start of the day to the end."

Reflecting on their "Bazball" journey in the last year or so, Bairstow said: "There are different pressures... when you're going in on the back of wins and with people in form, you have trust in each other.

"People are doing their jobs and then you come together as a unit. That's what the last 12 months have been about."

On his stand with Root, Bairstow said: "Five down, you're thinking a couple here and we could be in trouble. Have been lucky enough to bat with Rooty for too long, and we've had some special times in the middle."

Personally, the keeper-batter is enjoying his time out in the middle after a long injury lay-off.

"Great fun being back out there, just got my hands and feet going again. It is going to take a bit of time after my long lay-off, but when you're in, you give it your best shot."

Talking on England's early declaration and what should be bowlers' approach on a pitch which looked friendly to the batters, Bairstow said: "Be patient and relentless on a length. They are going to hit the middle of the bat, but we need to create pressure. It was a bold call (to declare), it's a good call."

Written with inputs from Reuters