AUS WON
Test
AUS beat ENG by 251 runs
Man of the Match - Steve Smith
AUS
284-10
& 487-7
 
374-10
&
146/10
ENG
The Ashes, 2019 |1st Test |8/1/2019
Edgbaston, Birmingham
Commentary
  • So that is it from the first Test of this year's Ashes. It is Australia who take a 1-0 lead and they also win the first game of the World Test Championship. The whole Test match was a roller coaster ride. If this is anything to go by, it is going to be a cracking series. The second Test is to be played at Lord's on the 14th of August 2019. It begins at 1100 local (1000 GMT). Till then, take care and goodbye!
  • MAN OF THE MATCH - Steve Smith for his magnificent tons in both the innings. There was absolutely no doubt about him being given the award. It is because of him, Australia won this game.
  • Day 5 though saw the Aussie bowlers blow away the England batting line-up. Cummins and Nathan Lyon being the star with both sharing 10 wickets amongst them. An outstanding display of character was shown by the Aussies in this game. They were booed and bullied throughout the game by the English fans but they never let it get into their heads and they came out on top that too convincingly.
  • Despite that fightback, England batted extremely well and ended Day 2 on 267 for 4 with Rory Burns scoring a ton. They would have surely eyed a lead in excess of 150 but the Australian bowlers bowled brilliantly on the morning of Day 3 and ensured England did not take their lead past 100 which saw the game evenly poised. However, three wickets even before the deficit was wiped off, surely made England favorites. Yet again though Steve Smith and another comeback man, Matthew Wade, batted Australia out of the game with tons. Australia managed to score 487, giving England a target of 398 which was impossible to chase on the last day but a draw was on the cards.
  • Now then, the scorecard suggest, Australia won by 251 runs but the game was never so one-sided as it suggests. Instead, for the first three days, it seemed like, it would be England who would take a 1-0 lead. They had Australia on the mat after the visitors elected to bat at 122 for 8 courtesy a fifer from Broad. However, the comeback men, rose to the occasion. Smith showed why he is one of the best going around with a brilliant ton. Siddle hung around with him and his knock also proved to be very handy. Also, a crucial last wicket stand saw Australia get to a competitive first innings score.
  • What a performance from the Australian bowlers today! They have breached the Edgbaston fortress. Well, one would assume there might not be a lot of difference in a 4th day wicket and a 5th day wicket but it seemed like Australia bowled on a completely different surface than what England bowled on yesterday. They managed to take 4 wickets in the first session and 6 in around an hour and 30 minutes in the second. The star with the ball for Australia - Nathan Lyon. Credit has to be given to Pat Cummins as well as he was brilliant on a wicket which did not assist the pacers a lot.
  • 52.3
    W
    Pat Cummins to C Woakes, OUT! Caught! That is it! Woakes' lone battle comes to an end! Cummins bangs one short, Woakes looks to leave but the ball is close to the body and he ends up playing it late. The ball lobs off the upper half of his bat towards second slip. Fittingly, the last catch is taken by Steve Smith! Australia win the first Ashes Test by 251 runs.
  • 52.2
    0
    Pat Cummins to Woakes, Bouncer! Woakes plays a no-look-pull but he plays it on a controlled manner towards backward square leg. They do not take the run.
  • 52.1
    0
    Pat Cummins to Woakes, Good length ball on off, Woakes pulls it to mid-wicket.
  • END OF OVER 52 | 5 Runs & 0 Wkt | ENG 146/9
  • Pat Cummins is back into the attack.
  • 51.6
    4
    N Lyon to J Anderson, EDGED AND FOUR! Flighted on off, James looks to defend but the ball takes the fat outside edge of the bat and runs wide of first slip and to the third man fence for a boundary.
  • 51.5
    1
    N Lyon to Woakes, Woakes comes down the track and whips it to wide long on.
  • 51.4
    0
    N Lyon to Woakes, Short outside off, Woakes looks to cut but misses.
  • 51.3
    0
    N Lyon to Woakes, On the stumps, Chris keeps it out.
  • 51.2
    0
    N Lyon to Woakes, On the pads, CW turns it wide of short leg.
  • 51.1
    0
    N Lyon to Woakes, Floated on the stumps, Woakes defends it off the front foot.
  • END OF OVER 51 | 4 Runs & 0 Wkt | ENG 141/9
  • 50.6
    1
    P Siddle to Woakes, Fuller on off, Woakes defends off his back foot but it goes off his outside edge and Smith dives to make a half-stop, Woakes takes a single to keep the strike.
  • 50.5
    4
    P Siddle to C Woakes, DROPPED AND FOUR! Good length ball outside off, Woakes goes chasing after it. It takes the outside edge and goes to second slip. Smith, who has not put a foot wrong in this game, manages to make one error and drops the catch. The ball goes through him for a boundary.
  • 50.4
    0
    P Siddle to Woakes, Full on middle and off, Woakes defends it towards mid on.
  • 50.3
    0
    P Siddle to Woakes, Woakes continues the battle. He defends it off the front foot.
  • 50.2
    0
    P Siddle to Woakes, Good length ball outside off, Woakes keeps it out of his back foot.
  • 50.1
    0
    P Siddle to Woakes, Length delivery outside off, Woakes has a push at it but misses.
  • END OF OVER 50 | 0 Runs & 0 Wkt | ENG 136/9