Picture : Twitter/ ICC
Australia’s Prime Minister Antony Albanese led the nation in celebrating Australia’s epic win . In tweet he wrote , Wow – brilliant win by Aussies – great partnership by Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to bring it home
Wow – brilliant win by Aussies – great partnership by Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to bring it home #Ashes23 #ENGvsAUS 🏏
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 20, 2023
Earlier Australia won a thrilling Ashes opener by two wickets at Edgbaston as captain Pat Cummins’ six-smashing 44 not out and Usman Khawaja’s patient 65 combined to give England’s “Bazball” cricket revolution a lesson from Down Under.
Cummins hit two sixes and four fours, and shared a match-winning ninth-wicket partnership of 55 with Nathan Lyon (16 not out) in the last hour of the final day.
Chasing 281 to win, Cummins hit the winning boundary against Ollie Robinson — which Harry Brook failed to stop at the rope — and Australia finished on 282-8 to disappoint a raucous crowd that sensed another memorable victory at the Birmingham ground after a two-run win in the second Ashes test in 2005.
That winning feeling 😍 #Ashes | #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/mqz4BX7BTi
— ICC (@ICC) June 20, 2023
Jubilant and possibly surprised Australian fans at the stadium chanted “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” after their team’s remarkable win.
Khawaja, who hit his first test century in England in the first innings, faced 197 deliveries as he anchored most of Australia’s successful run chase before being dismissed by Stokes. Khawaja was taking the game away from England with Australia at 209-6 but Stokes’ fiery delivery was hit onto his stumps by the batter.
Eight wickets down, Australia was still chasing the win — with very good reason as it turned out — and Cummins smashed Joe Root, who was bowling spin while Moeen Ali was nursing a hurt spinning finger, for two sixes in the 83rd over.
England delayed taking the new ball at 227-7 and it worked perfectly as Root claimed Alex Carey (20) to make the score 227-8 with Australia still needing 54 runs.
Cummins and Lyon then came to the crease and never left it.
Later addressing media , Pat Cummins said, “This is No. 1 yeah, absolutely, Start of an Ashes series, definitely number one. Probably when we got down to 10 runs or so required or maybe 16 runs or something, I thought like 2 runs an over and felt pretty confident about winning it felt like from almost the first session of day one. I was 50/50 the whole way along. Like it never felt like it swung too far, one way or the other”.
The Australia captain loved that #Ashes classic!
More ➡️ https://t.co/6aiSMWJ4M0 pic.twitter.com/ZLNyYB1cXd
— ICC (@ICC) June 21, 2023
Cummins was wicketless in the first innings but he bounced back and picked up 4 in the second innings. Cummins made useful contributions with the bat in both innings, scoring 38 in the first and remained unbeaten on 44 in the 2nd.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag lauded the epic Edgbaston tets between England and Australia as he wrote in his tweet, What a Test Match. One of the best I have seen in recent times. Testcricket is Best Cricket.
Was a gutsy decision by England to declare just before close on Day 1, especially considering the weather. But Khawaja was outstanding in both innings and @patcummins30 is the new Mr. Cool in Test cricket. What an innings under pressure and that partnership with Lyon was one to remember for a long time.
What a Test Match. One of the best I have seen in recent times. Testcricket is Best Cricket.
Was a gutsy decision by England to declare just before close on Day 1, especially considering the weather. But Khawaja was outstanding in both innings and @patcummins30 is the new Mr.… pic.twitter.com/9QqC2hjyzr— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 20, 2023
