Johnson blows England away in a 381-run drubbing
The field set for Mitchell Johnson summed up Australia's supremacy as they closed in on victory in the first Test at the Gabba
20/11Result
1st Test, England tour of Australia at Brisbane, Nov 21-24 2013
-
![]()
295 & 401/7d -
![]()
136 & 179 (81.1 ov)
Player of the Match
20/11Result
1st Test, England tour of Australia at Brisbane, Nov 21-24 2013
-
![]()
295 & 401/7d -
![]()
136 & 179 (81.1 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 4
A circle among shadows
Two photos from the Brisbane Test, taken at (nearly) the same instant, produce two different effects
England unravelling through run drought
They have slumped from grinding sides down with mountains of runs to battling to stay in matches
Seismic victory points to power shift
Bar their stuttering start, Australia put in a world-class performance at the Gabba to inflict maximum England casualties in the first match of the summer
England's first-Test blues
Stats highlights from Australia's emphatic Test win in Brisbane
Deeper problems than first-Test nerves for England
England's recurring first-Test failure may this time point to more ingrained issues
Cook condemns "disrespectful" Warner
England's captain, Alastair Cook, has condemned David Warner's off-field implication that Jonathan Trott was afraid of the pace of Mitchell Johnson as "disrespectful"
Don't rein in aggression, say players
Australia's cricketers should not be reined in from the aggression they showed during the first Ashes Test and broadcasters have erred in exposing players to unnecessary sanctions from the ICC, their union chief Paul Marsh has said
Clarke fined by ICC over Anderson sledge
Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, has been fined 20% of his match fee for his sledge against James Anderson during the dying stages of Australia's win in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane
Day 3
Warner and Clarke flay England
Domineering hundreds by Michael Clarke and David Warner, a declaration with an impregnable position swiftly achieved and two England wickets in the final hour: things could not have gone much better for Australia
The battle Clarke can win
Michael Clarke just needs to go back to the basics and trust them to overcome his issues against the short ball; he is a wonderful player and Australia should be proud of him
Clarke scores a thousand at the Gabba
Stats highlights from the third day's play of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba
Trott dismissal 'pretty weak' - Warner
David Warner claimed he saw fear in Jonathan Trott's eyes after England's No. 3 completed a wretched first Ashes Test at the Gabba by flicking Mitchell Johnson to deep square leg.
Warner learns to trust his instinct
David Warner is still learning to curb his natural instinct off the field when it can get him into trouble but on the field he has returned to trusting it
One mute Swann won't ruin a summer
He may have been dismissed around the Gabba but Graeme Swann's struggles - in difficult conditions for finger spin - shouldn't deter faith in one of the great spinners
Clarke continues Gabba love affair
The short ball was no trouble for Michael Clarke and he treated Graeme Swann with disdain as he continued his superb Brisbane form
Trott at crossroads with short-ball troubles
Characteristically so cool and clear of mind, Jonathan Trott is now clouded with doubt and thought as he tries to deal with an issue that could define his career
England need a plan for Johnson
They must respond to the Australian bowling threat adequately or the series will slip away from them fast
The masks we wear
Often what we see of cricketers on the field is not their real selves. It's just a facade that hides the confusion that resides within
Day 2
Johnson sparks England's Gabba nightmare
Australia vigorously protected their long unbeaten record at the Gabba on the second afternoon of the first Test as their bowlers ran rampant to dismiss England for 136
Enigma Johnson finds fiery best
Mitchell Johnson carried great expectations into the Gabba Test and found his best form in a brutal, and as always, unpredictable, display
Broad fan incitement comes home to roost
Australia have attempted to douse the flames of supporter incitement against Stuart Broad by requesting the shutdown of a Facebook page
Trott innings swung the day - Haddin
Brad Haddin pointed to Jonathan Trott's fraught innings before lunch and Nathan Lyon's telling two wicket contribution as the keys to Australia's dominant position at the close of day two at the Gabba
1st Test Highlights: Brisbane, Day 2
2nd day highlights from the 1st Test in Brisbane
England's worst middle-order collapses
Stats highlights from the second day's play of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba
Familiar tale from shell-shocked England
England's first Test collapse has has become a recurring failure and one that should be keeping Andy Flower and company awake at night
Australian mayhem orchestrated backstage
Their bowling display has been a feather in the cap for the hard work of coaches Craig McDermott and John Davison
Day 1
Broad undermines Australia's challenge
The wicket looks fantastic," said Michael Clarke, an Australian captain with renewed heart, as he won the toss at the start of the return Ashes series. The same could not be said of Australia's batting
Abuse the catalyst for stellar Broad
Rubbished and ridiculed, Stuart Broad revelled in the abuse and delivered a performance of a skilful, experienced Test bowler
Australia strangers in their own land
There was a remarkable role reversal on day one at the Gabba as Australia resembled the tentative under-prepared team that is usually the tourists
1st Test Highlights: Brisbane, Day 1
1st day highlights from the 1st Test in Brisbane
No magic cave for Australia
Australia were billed as a different side to three months ago but emerged as the same flawed team with a penchant for self-sabotage
Clarke's problem
A weakness against the short ball is more serious for a batsman than other shortcomings because of the effect it can have on a player's overall game
Others
Fun turns to fear for Jonathan Trott
A joyous debut century is now a world away for Jonathan Trott as the complexities of international cricket catch up with him
How growing a moustache can improve your all-round skills
A review of the first Ashes Test reveals startling facts about the weather and facial hair
Pump up the volume
It's time to turn the stump mikes all the way up, and leave them that way
The grass must be green, the strip yellow
Unlike most other sports, cricket needs to look right to its fans, from the colour of the grass, the pitch and the stumps to the quality of the light
Doesn't sledging hurt anyone?
Players insist that what's said on the field doesn't affect them, but then why do it at all? And why go up in arms when someone seemingly crosses the line?
Thou shalt not pass the beach ball
What do you do if a beach ball flops onto the field next to you at an international cricket match? Nothing
Clarke standing up for Bailey - Warne
Shane Warne has called the ICC's decision to fine Michael Clarke "a disgrace", claiming that Clarke was only standing up for his players after James Anderson threatened to punch George Bailey in the face.
Brad Haddin's well played fifty
Family illness might have swept Brad Haddin away from cricket altogether, but he has returned to Brisbane in search of the Ashes win that has always eluded him
What fast bowling does
It gives aggro to your fielders, jitters to the opposition, and thrills to the fans
How did sledging become a sign of manliness?
Michael Clarke has gained praise in some quarters for showing mongrel by sledging. What sort of message does that send?
Nathan Lyon finds his voice
When he cleared his throat to lead "Under the Southern Cross" for the first time last week, Nathan Lyon did so as Australia's undisputed No. 1 spin bowler. The path there has been bumpy
Clarke conveys Australia's nerves
Michael Clarke appeared distracted during his pre-series press conference, despite the many reasons he might have had for confidence
No fear for England as four in a row looms
Whatever the pitches and whatever the attacks, England appear to have the stronger side, while Australia's bluff and bluster seems a sign of insecurity
One of England's biggest matchwinners
Kevin Pietersen has been England's best batsman in the last 30 years, and one of their biggest matchwinners ever
The Official Confectionery Stall Ashes Preview
Andy Zaltzman provides the almost-definite preview of the Ashes series and why England should, could, or might not retain the urn
Gatting guards the urn in all-night vigil
Mike Gatting will don MCC pyjamas as he prepares for an all-night session in the Lord's museum at the start of the Ashes series
When petulant jingoism is mistaken for news
A Brisbane newspaper's campaign to vilify Stuart Broad has backfired spectacularly, and deservedly, as it wrongly portrays Australian fans as churlish and immature