Lyon, Cummins Star, Oz Thrash England
Men’s Ashes: First Specsavers Test, Edgbaston (day five of five)
Australia 284 (Smith 144, Broad 5-86) & 4877 dec (Smith 142, Wade 110)
England 374 (Burns 133) & 146 (Woakes 37, Lyon 6-49)
Australia won by 251 runs; go 1-0 up in fivematch series
England surrendered on the final day of the first Ashes Test, giving Australia a crushing 251run win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Needing to bat out the day to earn a draw - chasing 398 to win was never in the offing - England at one stage lost six wickets for 37 runs on the way to being bowled out for 146 at Edgbaston. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took advantage of the worn pitch to claim 6-49, while paceman Pat Cummins picked up 4-32 as the tourists surged to victory just before tea. It puts them ahead in an Ashes series in the UK for the first time in 14 years.
England can rightly point to the fact they have been without pace bowler James Anderson for almost the whole game - he pulled up with a recurrence of a calf injury after bowling only four overs on the first morning. However, the wisdom of selecting Anderson in the first place can be questioned, while the hosts will also rue a collapse of 4-18 on the third morning, some curious tactics on the fourth day and an awful shot by Jason Roy that began the final-day slump from 60-1.
In truth, though, this match will be remembered for the brilliance of Australia batsman Steve Smith, whose twin centuries rescued his side from 122-8 in the first innings and again from a deficit of 15 runs when three wickets down in the second.
England have their own problems to address before the second Test at Lord’s begin tomorrow , but none are as big as what to do about Smith.
England captain Joe Root at the presentation: “It hurts. It is bitterly disappointing. We played really good cricket in the majority of the Test match. Credit to Australia. They fought hard to get back in it.
“Steve Smith played two brilliant innings. We have to keep working hard to get him out. Obviously it was hard that we lost Jimmy early on. We have to take it on the chin and come back hard at Lord’s.” On Anderson’s fitness: “It was a group decision to select him. He passed all of the fitness tests. It is one of those freak things that happen in cricket. It is disappointing.” Australia batsman Steve Smith: “Winning the first Test in England is really special.
“It feels great, I’m loving being back playing cricket for Australia, doing what I love and contributing to wins. To score two hundreds in a match - the first time I’ve done that in any form of cricket in my life - is very special and I’m very proud.” Australia captain Tim Paine: “Steve Smith has been unbelievable, not just this week but in the last five or six weeks too. He makes guys better.
“He’s one of the best Test batsmen we’ve seen and he seems to be getting even better.”
Ashes 2019 First Test: Australia won by 251 runs,
Second Test: 14-18 August, Lord’s, Third Test: 22-26 August, Headingley
Fourth Test: 4-8 September, Old Trafford Fifth Test: 12-16 September, The Oval. -BBC Sports