Australia put up a commanding display to beat hosts England by 251 runs in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Monday, ending England’s 11-year dominance at the Birmingham ground.
There’s no surprise that Steve Smith, making a return to the Australian Test side after serving a one-year ban, was the difference in the match. The 30-year-old amassed scores of 144 and 142 to put Australia on course to victory. There were big gains for off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who took nine wickets in the match, and pacer Pat Cummins.
Cummins’ exceptional rise in red-ball cricket continued and he became the second-fastest Australian to pick up 100 Test wickets. The match also witnessed some poor umpiring and England batsmen failing to put up a fight. What makes Australia’s win all the more impressive was that Tim Paine and Co were down to 122/8 in the first innings before Smith, with the help of Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon took Australia to a respectable score. Some of Sir Don Bradman’s inconceivable numbers are under serious threat.
Here are some eye-catching statistics from the game:
2008 - England's eight-match unbeaten streak in Tests at Edgbaston has come to an end; last losing there in 2008 (v South Africa). Fortress. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/6ZxEO7aMiR
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) August 5, 2019
Steve Smith has 25 Test centuries. Just two in losing cause. The MVP! #Ashes
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 5, 2019
Since WW2 Aussie spinners with a 5-wkt haul in a Test in England
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 5, 2019
8 - Shane Warne from 1993 to 2005
1 - Richie Benaud (1961), Ashley Mallett (1972), Ray Bright (1981), Bob Holland (1985), Tim May (1993), Marcus North (2010), Nathan Lyon (2019)#Ashes#Ashes19#EngvAus#EngvsAus
Nathan Lyon has now dismissed Moeen Ali in nine of the last ten innings he's bowled to him. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 5, 2019
Biggest victory margin by a team that conceded a 1st innings deficit of 90+:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) August 5, 2019
251 runs Aus v Eng Birmingham 2019 (deficit 90)
233 SA v Aus Johannesburg 1966 (deficit 126)
197 Aus v SL Galle 2004 (deficit 161)
🔸First instance of a visiting side winning a Test in Edgbaston after conceding a 1st innings lead
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) August 5, 2019
🔸First win for Australia in England since 1981 after conceding a 1st inngs lead#Ashes #ENGvAUS https://t.co/nuhCCMdUfy
The GOAT snares one more: This time it's Root!
— Victor Tarapore (@VictorTarapore) August 5, 2019
- Test Wkt #349
- 5th time Lyon has dismissed Root in Tests: No bowler has dismissed him more
- 1st time Lyon has taken 3+ wkts in the 4th inns v an opponent other than India since 2015 (vs WI)#MakeStatsGreatAgain #ENGvAUS #Ashes
Pat Cummins reaches 100-wicket milestone in just 21 Tests.
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) August 5, 2019
Among Australian fast bowlers, only Charlie Turner (in 1895) got there in fewer Tests - 17.
Lillee & Thomson took 22 each
McGrath & Johnson 23 each
Gillespie & Ryan Harris 24 each#Ashes19 #ENGvAUS
Results - Opening Test match of an #Ashes series
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 5, 2019
in England: Australia 12, England 11, Drawn 13
in Australia: Australia 17, England 12, Drawn 6#Ashes19#EngvAus#EngvsAus
Averaging 60 for Aus in Tests:
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) August 5, 2019
144.00 KPatterson
102.50 ATrott
99.94 DBradman
63.06 SBarnes
62.96 SSmith
61.88 AVoges
60.00 JMoss
28th time England has been defeated by 250 runs or more, 19 of them inflicted by Australia, 5 by WI, 3 by RSA and one by India
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) August 5, 2019
Steve Smith needs 512 runs to surpass Donald Bradman's Test tally. It is not inconceivable that he could do it in this series. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 5, 2019
Joe Root is the first batsman to have been given out and had the decision overturned on review 4 times in a Test match. Moeen Ali survived 5 reviews v Bangladesh in Chittagong 2016 - 3 he reviewed and 2 were reviewed by Bangladesh
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) August 5, 2019
Instances of an Australian designated 'keeper-captain WINNING an #Ashes Test
— Victor Tarapore (@VictorTarapore) August 5, 2019
1885, Sydney: Jack Blackham
1892, Melbourne: Jack Blackham
1892, Sydney: Jack Blackham
2019, Birmingham: Tim Paine👈
Put another way: First since THE NINETEENTH CENTURY!#MakeStatsGreatAgain #ENGvAUS