ENG VS AUS 1ST TEST

Right then, what an epic battle we have witnessed and this is just the start. We still have four more Test matches to go in this monumental series between two powerhouses. Australia have taken a 1-0 lead in the series but we expect England to come back stronger at Lord's which will be the next venue. The game begins in a week's time on Wednesday the 28th of June at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) but our coverage will begin well in advance. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Pat Cummins, the skipper of Australia, starts by saying that their supporters got outnumbered but thanks them for sticking around. Adds that there were no demons on this surface on the final day and regarding Lyon's boundary over mid on, Cummins smiles and says that he just stood there in awe and said 'nice shot Gary'. Mentions that the beauty of this series is that both teams have different strengths and they stick to it. Praises Khawaja for his composure and calls him a class player. He is really happy for Usman. States that everyone chipped in and played a role while being happy that he could contribute with the bat. Informs that Lyon has been huge for them with the ball and he is just a captain's dream.

Ben Stokes, the captain of England says that he is very proud of the team to take this game into Day 5, and it was wonderful to see the way they handled the rollercoaster of emotions. Claims that this is what they want to do as they hope to keep the people involved and on the edge of their seats. Reckons that a loss is a loss in terms of how they operate. Adds that losing always hurts regardless and they want to keep making the moves when the time is right. Mentions that when they come on the positive side of the result there will not be much to complain about. Explains that he decided to declare because he saw an opportunity to pounce on Australia by taking early wickets and going into Day 2 on top. Informs that it was great to have Moeen Ali even though he had to leave the field but Joe Root did a remarkable job. Goes on to say that he is not only a world-class batter but is growing as a bowler as well. Feels that is incredible to see a senior batter play the way he did on Day 4. Admits that the way he played in the first half hour got the momentum on their side and there is always pressure chasing down the target but gives credit to Australia. Ends by saying that Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad put in all their effort and that is all you can ask for. He adds that Stuart Broad has his head in his heart and long may it continue.

Player of the Match is Usman Khawaja! Says that he was very nervous in the final five minutes and counts this as one of his favourite Tests to be a part of! Shares that there was too much nervous energy in the dressing room and he was watching the match on a delay. Adds that this knock of his is right up there and tells that the ebb and flow of this Test match was excellent with no one having it until the end. Reminds that the last series was tough work for the Aussie batters, barring Smith and he is delighted to win the first Test match.

Presentation time...

David Warner and Usman Khawaja started wonderfully well though and added 61 runs together but a late surge on Day 4 allowed England to claim three crucial wickets as Ollie Robinson dismissed David Warner and Stuart Broad sent Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith packing. The delayed start on Day 5 had everyone sweating and one session was lost to rain. Usman Khawaja and Scott Boland were watchful to begin before Stuart Broad was able to send the night watchman back to the shed. Moeen Ali claimed the crucial wicket of Travis Head before Tea and had England believing there were ahead in this game. Australia proved them wrong in the final session to stamp their authority ahead of a long tour.

England started Day 4 intending to make sure that they get a result in this game as they looked to be aggressive from the word go led by Joe Root. He scored 46 alone with Harry Brook as both missed out on half-centuries by 4 runs and Ben Stokes added 43 runs to score as well. They kept losing wickets in regular intervals though and were bowled out by Tea for 273 runs setting a target of 281. The Australian bowlers did a remarkable job with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon claiming four wickets each with Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland chipping in with one apiece. The hosts would have liked to have a few more runs on the board but came out looking to get some early breakthroughs with the ball.

The Australian openers managed to survive the four overs on Day 1 but did not get off to the best starts on Day 2 as they lost David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne on consecutive deliveries. Things got worse for them when Steven Smith was dismissed for a low score before Lunch and the declaration seemed to be working for the hosts. Usman Khawaja proved the be the thorn in their side though as he held up one end and built good partnerships with Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Alex Carey. Head and Carey scored attacking half-centuries with Khawaja top-scoring for his side with 141 runs. An attacking cameo from Pat Cummins helped push their total to 386, 7 runs short of England’s total. Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson both claimed three wickets each with Moeen Ali chipping in with two. He seemed to have injured his finger while bowling which seemed to hinder his bowling performance. The England openers came out looking positive in the second session of Day 3 but rain interruptions seemed to hamper their concentration and both were dismissed in overcast conditions before play was called off for the day.

The hosts won a good toss and elected to bat first with Zak Crawley smashing the first ball to the fence for four. The tone had been set for how the hosts were planning to approach their batting effort but suffered an early setback as Ben Duckett was dismissed after playing a couple of good shots. Ollie Pope got off to a decent start but could not make it count and was dismissed along with Crawley who scored 61 runs in 73 balls before Lunch. Joe Root batted beautifully from one end with Harry Brook (32 runs in 37 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (78 runs in 78 deliveries) playing attacking knocks to help keep the run rate up. They scored 393 for the loss of 8 wickets in 78 overs and with four overs left to play on Day 1, Ben Stokes pulled off a surprise by declaring their inning. Joe Root remained unbeaten on 118 and put up an exhibition of his world-class abilities. Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers for Australia with four wickets under his belt and the rest of the bowlers chipped in as well barring the skipper Pat Cummins who remained wicketless.

England found an opening and had their tails up as they built pressure on Alex Carey with some disciplined bowling. The English bowlers were unable to get a breakthrough though and the skipper decided to bring himself into the attack. The decision bore fruit immediately as he managed to finally end Khawaja’s stubborn stand on 65 in 197 balls. Carey and Pat Cummins hung around till the new ball was available but Ben Stokes pulled off another masterstroke by not taking the brand-new cherry and giving a over to Joe Root. He rewarded his captain's faith by dismissing Carey as he took a blinder off his own bowling. Cummins took it upon himself to get the remaining runs as he took 14 runs from Root’s over and kept up with his attacking intent. He had Nathan Lyon with him and the spinner looked really comfortable out in the middle as the two of them added 55 runs to take their side home with the skipper scoring 44 runs having come to bat with 72 runs still needed.

SESSION SUMMARY - 99 runs, 33.3 overs, 3 wickets. A lot depended on Usman Khawaja to help Australia take the game deep after they found half their team back in the shed at the Tea interval with 98 runs needed in the final session. He fought hard to keep the scoreboard ticking while holding up one end and had Cameron Green for company who came out after the break looking to be much more positive. Green added 49 runs with Khawaja for the sixth wicket but chopped one onto his stumps off the bowling on Ollie Robinson on 28.

AUSTRALIA WIN THE FIRST ASHES TEST MATCH BY 2 WICKETS! What an extraordinary game this has been! The pendulum kept constantly swinging both ways and provided us with non-stop entertainment despite the rain interruptions. The reigning Test champions have started their title defense in this World Test Championship cycle with a win against their arch-rivals away from home and have set this series up beautifully. They continue their outstanding form and have shown why they are the best Test team in the world and it is ironic that their captain was the one who took them over the finish line. England fought remarkably hard and one has to now wonder in circumspect if the decision to declare in the first inning was the right one. That said, they have contributed heavily towards providing us with a remarkable spectacle!

FOUR! AUSTRALIA WIN! Pat Cummins is pumped up, he lifts Lyon in delight. What an end to this Test match! The 8th wicket partnership has done it for the tourists. Back of a length, around off, Cummins pushes inside the line with soft hands and edges it down towards third man. Harry Brook speeds across to his right from straightish third man and Zak Crawley chases it to his left from deep point. Brook reaches first with a slide but he ends up deflecting it over the fence. Australia win by 2 wickets and have excelled in their first assignment against England's 'Bazball'!

A bit short and on off, Pat jumps and defends it to the off side.

Well stopped! Shortish and on middle, Cummins helps it towards backward short leg. Pope dives and makes a superb stop moving away to his right.

Short in length and on middle, Cummins jumps and tucks it to mid-wicket for a run. Retains strike and now 3 needed more for Australia.

On a good length, around middle, Pat defends it back and Broad stops the ball with a dive to his right. The veteran has given his all.