Ashes 2017-18, 1st Test, Review: Australia romp home with 10 wickets in hand on the final day

Australia defeated England by 10 wickets in the first of the ongoing Ashes and draw first blood towards regaining the urn. The result was pretty much a foregone conclusion on the fourth day itself after the openers of the hosts didn’t lose their wicket in the final session of play. Though the poms would have loved to pick at least a couple of wickets just to gain some confidence. However, the Aussies romped home easily and took 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

The visitors had only 56 runs to defend on the fifth day and were resigned to their fate in the game. Cameron Bancroft and David Warner played the bowlers comfortably and continued from where they left on Sunday. The former was even more pleasing to the eyes who eased himself after a nervous start to his international career in the first innings. Warner, on the other hand, attacked the already dispirited bowlers.

At one stage, the left-hander was also contention to reach his century but his partner hit twin boundaries and evaded those possibilities. Warner wouldn’t mind it though as the team won a fiercely contested Test match. The debutant Bancroft remained unbeaten on 82 in the chase and scored the winning runs for his team. Warner just leapfrogged him and scored 87 off just 119 balls and looked at ease after a quiet start to his Ashes campaign.

What happened earlier in the match?

England were fortunate to win the toss at the Gabba and batted first. But after a bright start from the Ashes debutants, they collapsed and could post only 302. They had Australia under the pump first at 76/4 and then at 209/7 but Steve Smith, the skipper of the hosts, stood tall and weathered everything thrown at him. He also scored his 21st Test century which was touted as one of the best ever from the former greats. Pat Cummins and Shaun Marsh supported him well with sedate knocks and earned a crucial lead of 26 runs.

England never started well in the second innings as Australian bowled with hostility and spit venom with the short ball barrage. Nathan Lyon, in particular, was magnificent throughout the match and scalped important wickets. Joe Root was the only half-centurion for England and the lower-order couldn’t handle the superlative bowling of the hosts. They were bowled out for just 195 setting the target of 170 which was chased by the Australia easily courtesy their solid openers.

Steve Smith, deservedly, was awarded Man of the Match for his heroic knock in the first innings which set the game up nicely for his team. The second Test match will be played under lights with the pink ball in Adelaide and England has to address their weaknesses quickly else this series could be a repeat of 2013-14 tour. The hosts, on the other hand, would love to continue in the same vein and expose their opponents.

Brief Scores

England 302/10 (J Vince 83; M Starc 3/77) & 195/10 (J Root 51; J Hazlewood 3/46, M Starc 3/51, N Lyon 3/67)

Australia 328 ( S Smith 140*; S Broad 3/49) & 183/0 (C Bancroft 82*, D Warner 87*)

Result: Australia won by 10 wickets

Man of the Match: Steve Smith