Ashes 2021-22: 1st Test Review – Aussies go 1-0 up after England’s collapse

England collapsed in sensational fashion on the morning of Day 4 at The Gabba in Brisbane. Resuming the day at 220/2, the Joe Root-led side lost its next 8 wickets for the addition of just 77 runs.

Nathan Lyon ripped through the England batting lineup and took 4 wickets in the second innings. Australia were set a meager target of 20 runs for victory and romped home with 9 wickets to spare. Australia were dominant right through the Test match at their fortress, The Gabba.

After skittling England out for just 147 in the 1st innings, they put up a massive total of 425 on the board, with Travis Head scoring a superb 152. And in the second innings, even though Joe Root and Dawid Malan put on a fighting partnership of 162 runs, the rest of the England batters did not offer any support at all.

With this victory, Australia have started the 2021-22 Ashes series on a comprehensive note, while England have a lot of thinking to do.

Top Performers from the Match

Travis Head

Travis Head played a match-defining knock in the 1st Test against England. The Kangaroos were reduced to 195/5 in the first innings, and England had a sniff at that point of time. But then, Travis Head came and played a sensational inning that knocked the winds out of the sails of the England side.

The left-hander scored a blazing 152 off just 148 deliveries, and his innings was filled with 14 fours and 4 sixes. Head’s superb knock helped Australia post a total of 425 in their first innings, and helped them wallop England. Head also won the Player of the Match award.

Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins’ stint as full-time Australian Test captain started off in superb fashion. The right-arm pacer scalped a five-wicket haul in the first innings, to help the Kangaroos skittle out the Joe Root led outfit for a total of just 147. In the second innings too, the Aussie skipper played a vital role with the ball and picked up the wickets of Rory Burns and Ben Stokes to help his side to a victory.

Stats and Milestones

Nathan Lyon became just the third Aussie bowler to breach the 400-wicket mark in Test cricket. Lyon now has 403 wickets to his name in the whites. Only Shane Warne (708 wickets) and Glenn McGrath (563 wickets) have taken more scalps than Lyon in Test cricket for Australia.

Joe Root went past Michael Vaughan for the most Test runs scored by an England cricketer in a calendar year. Root currently has scored 1544 runs in 25 innings in 2021. Vaughan had scored 1481 Test runs in the year 2002.

What next for both teams?

Australia and England will next face each other in the second Test match at Adelaide. This will be a Day-Night affair and will commence on 16th December 2021.