Australia thrashed England by 251 runs to win the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Monday.
England, set an imposing target of 398 to win, collapsed to 97 for 7 in the post-lunch session on the fifth and final day before being bundled out for 146.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed 6-49 and fast bowler Pat Cummins scalped 4-32 as Australia registered their first win in all the formats at Edgbaston since 2001.
Also, the defeat for England has ended their run of 11 successive international wins at their Birmingham ‘fortress’.
The match was a personal triumph for Australia’s former skipper Steve Smith, who in his comeback Test since a 12-month ban for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal, scored 144 and 142.
In the process, Smith became just the fifth Australian batsman to score two centuries in an Ashes Test.
His first-innings ton powered Australia to 284 after they collapsed to 122 for 8.
England replied with 374, their first-innings lead of 90 built on a maiden Test century from left-handed opener Rory Burns, who scored 133, and half-centuries from captain Joe Root and vice-captain Ben Stokes.
Smith’s second-innings ton and a maiden Ashes century from Matthew Wade allowed visiting captain Tim Paine to declare on 487-7.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Fortress #Edgbaston has been breached …. fantastic spell of spin bowling by Mr LYON🦁!! Well done Australia 🇦🇺 for winning the 1st test #ENGvsAUS #Ashes19
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) August 5, 2019
Nathan Lyon, you absolute beauty. Steve Smith the game changer. From losing the WC semis here to winning the 1st Test against England , go on Aussies #Ashes
— Rajal Arora (@RajalArora) August 5, 2019
Absolutely brilliant from #NathanLyon. Support bowler in the first innings, rises to be matchwinner in the second. Plays both roles so well.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 5, 2019
Five and very quickly six wickets for Nathan Lyon!
A wonderful effort from him and in the process he has passed 3️⃣5️⃣0️⃣Test wickets for Australia.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/BwczJjbS4D
— ICC (@ICC) August 5, 2019
Winning a test match by 251 runs after being 122/8 in the first innings doesn't happen very often. A remarkable test match for Steve Smith, and well done Nathan Lyon and Cummins. #Ashes19
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 5, 2019
Fortress breached #Ashes
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) August 5, 2019
Nathan Lyon is killing @englandcricket. Only consolation is for some reason they seem to call him Gary. Can only presume he shat on a wicket somewhere. 🤷🏼♂️
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 5, 2019
Superbly played @CricketAus
Well deserved win
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽#TheAshes2019 #ENGvsAUS— atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) August 5, 2019
Steve Smith, the fulcrum around whom this match turned. From 122/8 to victory by 251 runs. #Ashes
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) August 5, 2019
Aussies too good this Test .. They look very very well coached & prepared for these conditions .. Unless England find lateral movement this could be a long 6 weeks .. #OnOn #Ashes
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 5, 2019
Perfect start by the Aussies. Fought back hard after a poor start. Great signs for the rest of the series. Smith 10/10, Lyon impressive and some valuable contributions by everyone else. #Ashes Bring on Lords!!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) August 5, 2019
Well played Australia. Credit where credit is due they played brilliantly to get themselves out of very difficult positions twice & then go on to win. @stevesmith49 was simply incredible. Congratulations on coming back to Test cricket in such a way. On to Lords! #TheAshes
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) August 5, 2019
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