TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: Usman Khawaja is the second Australian to bat on every day of a five-day Test
TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: Usman Khawaja becomes just the second Australian to bat on every day of a five-day Test… as his side complete their second highest ever chase in England
- Australia won a dramatic first Ashes Test by two wickets at Edgbaston on day five
- Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon’s superb unbroken partnership saw them home
- Here, Mail Sport’s Lawrence Booth runs through the big stats from the final day
It was a Test match for the ages at Edgbaston this week and one that rivalled the iconic Ashes encounter on the very same ground 18 years ago in 2005.
Australia were on the right side of a dramatic chase this time as they edged home by two wickets thanks to a superb innings from their skipper Pat Cummins and admirable support from Nathan Lyon.
The final day of action was thrilling and you couldn’t afford to take your eyes away as both teams continually traded blows throughout.
It looked as if England would emerge victorious when they had the visitors, 227-8, still requiring another 54 to win, but an inspired unbroken ninth wicket partnership between Cummins and Lyon meant it was first blood to the Aussies ahead of next week’s second Test at Lord’s.
Below, Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH provides the big stats from the fifth day.
Australia completed their second highest chase in England as they won the first Ashes Test
Usman Khawaja became the second Australian to bat on every day of a five-day Test, after Kim Hughes made 117 and 84 in the Centenary Test against England at Lord’s in 1980.
In this Test Pat Cummins made his two highest scores since December 2018, when he scored 63 against India at Melbourne.
This was Australia’s second-highest successful chase in England, beaten only by their 404 for three at Headingley in 1948.
Australia have beaten England by two wickets only once before – at Sydney in 1907-08, when Tibby Cotter and Gerry Hazlitt put on an unbroken 56 for the ninth wicket, one more than Cummins and Lyon managed here.
Australia have now won the first Test in each of the last four Ashes. In the previous three they went on to win at home in 2017-18 and 2021-22, and draw away in 2019. England’as last first-Test win came at Cardiff in 2015.
The stoic Usman Khawaja became the second Australian to bat on every day of a five-day Test
In this Test Cummins made his two highest scores since December 2018, when he scored 63 against India at Melbourne
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