RESULT
1st Test, Birmingham, August 01 - 05, 2019, Australia tour of England
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284 & 487/7d
(T:398) 374 & 146

Australia won by 251 runs

Player Of The Match
144 & 142
steven-smith
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ENG 2nd Innings
Full commentary

3.40pm: That's a wrap, Australia tying a bow on this one long before things got tense. We've had a proper Test tussle here, although England's enthusiasm for the scrap deserted them towards the end. Steven Smith's twin peaks were too much for home side to attempt an ascent - and worse than that, they know he could turn the whole series into a mountain range, the sort of form he's in. Anyway, Gnasher is inking in the parchment for his report, and we'll have more reaction and analysis on the site soon. Thanks for pitching in, as ever. For now, it's goodbye from myself, Miller and Chandan - we'll be back for more at Lord's. Ta ra!

3.25pm: Here we go with the presentations. Plenty to sift through, starting with Joe Root "It does hurt, bitterly disappointing, I thought we played some good cricket but credit to Australia. [Smith?] Two brilliant innings, we have to keep working hard on trying to get him out. Hard losing Jimmy early on but these things happen. Group decision, he passed the fitness tests. It's disappointing but we've got to try and respond to that at Lord's. Not sure, have to wait on the scans. [Archer?] Have to see how he shapes up as well. We don't have to make any shotgun decisions in terms of selection, important we're clear on how we want to go. There was some high-class bowling, we were made to work hard but I think you look further back in the Test match for where we lost it. We didn't do it for long enough and didn't take our chance. [Break between Tests] Gives us a chance to get away, regroup, make sure this doesn't have a hangover effect."

Australia's Tim Paine: [Scale of comeback] "I wouldn't say surprised, thought we were up against it at on stage but we had the best player in the world at the crease. We were excellent the second innings, bat and ball. [Smith] Running out of things to say about him, probably the best Test match performance we've seen. Wadey I've seen up close at Tasmania for the last couple of years, he's in form and a really good place. [Lyon?] Always hard to come to a Test match on day five, with the pressure on your shoulders. But we put pressure on the other end as well, Nathan took the spoils but we shared it around. This morning, our bowling was sensational. [Atmosphere] Didn't matter where it was, we know the crowd's going to be against us. The guys handled themselves well, and stuck to their guns."

Steven Smith is Man of the Match: "Pretty special, great to be here in another Ashes series. Love playing in England, the atmosphere is amazing, boys turned up and played a really good game. We know how much of a world-class spinner Gazza is, but to go 1-0 up in the series is a a big boost. I'm just grateful to be back playing for Australia, doing what I love and contributing to wins. Been a special comeback and I'm over the moon to be standing here now and contributing to a win for Australia. [First hundred] It was pretty emotional, take a few deep breaths and take it in, realise what I'd done. Probably as special as my first hundred for Australia in 2013. Really pleased, hope I can keep contributing throughout the series. Been a long 18 month for me, friends and family got me through some difficult times and got me back where I am. Don't know if it's sunk in yet, been a hell of a week, enjoyed playing in the World Cup, and being here, it's the ultimate challenge. To have started as well as we have, and as well as a team, I just hope we can continue."

3.15pm: Edgbaston has been breached, Australia winning here for the first time since 2001 (which was also the last time they enjoyed Ashes success in England); and to do so from a position of 122 for 8 shortly before tea on the first day, well, that tells you plenty about how hard they came back in this match. They will take a 1-0 lead to Lord's, where the second Test begins in nine days' time, as well as plenty of confidence - Smiffy in superlative form on his comeback, 16 wickets for Cummins and Lyon, solid support from the likes of Wade, Head and Siddle. It's also the first time they have won in England having conceded a first-innings lead since 1981. Oddly, although they have plenty of problems, England didn't play that badly: they lost the toss, were hampered by the injury to Anderson, and failed to capitalise on two good positions in the first innings (remember, they were 282 for 4 in their reply). But it'll probably take a lot more than just giving Jofra Archer a debut to turn things around.

52.3
W
Cummins to Woakes, OUT

short but with pace off, and Woakes can only steer it limply to slip! Done by the slower bouncer, contorting into all sorts of positions but in the end popping a simple catch up off the splice... All of which means, Australia win by 251 runs, exorcising their Birmingham hoodoo in style!

Chris Woakes c Smith b Cummins 37 (54b 7x4 0x6 67m) SR: 68.51
52.2
Cummins to Woakes, no run

dug in again, swatted away to the leg side

"What does Woakes average with bat and ball at home? Must be immense numbers." We can do that for you, Alex W

52.1
Cummins to Woakes, no run

short ball, doesn't get up and Woakes pulls down to fine leg, not taking the run

Pat Cummins back to try and knock Woakes over

end of over 525 runs
ENG: 146/9CRR: 2.80 
James Anderson4 (9b 1x4)
Chris Woakes37 (51b 7x4)
Nathan Lyon 20-5-49-6
Peter Siddle 12-2-28-0
51.6
4
Lyon to Anderson, FOUR runs

flighed, draws him forwards, edged between slip and gully! Didn't carry, but it will roll away for four, prompting the Edgbaston crowd to serenade Jimmy Anderson once more

One ball for Anderson to see out

51.5
1
Lyon to Woakes, 1 run

worked into the leg side for a single

"How does the radar look? Umbrellas yet?" Bit cloudy, Koz, but I don't think a deluge is imminent

51.4
Lyon to Woakes, no run

outside off, pushed through quicker as Woakes goes back to cut but fails to connect

51.3
Lyon to Woakes, no run

tossed up and tucked off the stumps to midwicket

51.2
Lyon to Woakes, no run

jabbed off the face, in the air but behind Bancroft, sticking out a mitt at short leg

51.1
Lyon to Woakes, no run

tossed up from over the wicket, Woakes defends in front of his pads

end of over 515 runs
ENG: 141/9CRR: 2.76 
Chris Woakes36 (46b 7x4)
James Anderson0 (8b)
Peter Siddle 12-2-28-0
Nathan Lyon 19-5-44-6
50.6
1
Siddle to Woakes, 1 run

dinked down wide of the cordon, Smith scampers up but they will pinch a run

50.5
4
Siddle to Woakes, FOUR runs

dropped! Woakes flashes at one, deflected low towards second slip, but Smith can't cling on! No luck for Siddle, but some schadenfreude for the crowd to enjoy

"Could this be the last we ever see of Jimmy in a home Ashes test. Sad if it's with a bat in his hand." It's certainly possible, Stuart. Though England will hope he can get fit for the last couple, at least. Whether the series is still alive then...

50.4
Siddle to Woakes, no run

length ball on the stumps, 84mph/136kph and bunted away

50.3
Siddle to Woakes, no run

fired in straighter and tucked towards midwicket off the back foot

Someone has put up an umbrella in the crowd. But don't get hopeful

50.2
Siddle to Woakes, no run

pitched up and dug out into the off side

50.1
Siddle to Woakes, no run

persevering outside off, seams away a touch low as Woakes plays and misses

Can the indefatigable Peter Siddle end things...?

end of over 50Maiden
ENG: 136/9CRR: 2.72 
James Anderson0 (8b)
Chris Woakes31 (40b 6x4)
Nathan Lyon 19-5-44-6
Peter Siddle 11-2-23-0
49.6
Lyon to Anderson, no run

Lyon twirls away, straightening outside off as Anderson drops back and blocks

49.5
Lyon to Anderson, no run

gets across and blocks

"As England is CWC winner, they don't want to bat for more than 50 overs.." sniggers Rijwan. White-ball thinking rules

49.4
Lyon to Anderson, no run

flighted, around the line of off, Anderson is forward again

49.3
Lyon to Anderson, no run

on the stumps, waits in the crease and taps it down

49.2
Lyon to Anderson, no run

drifting in and spinning as Anderson gets forward to smother it

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ICC World Test Championship

TEAMMWLDPTRPWR
IND1712415201.577
ENG2111734421.12
NZ117404201.281
AUS148423321.392
PAK124532860.822
SA135802640.787
SL122642000.729
WI133821940.661
BAN7061200.601