Ashes: England suffer crushing 10-wicket defeat in first Test

The host Australia have cruised to a crushing 10-wicket win over England to go one-up in the Ashes series at the Gabba on Monday, with captain Steve Smith praising his team’s character.

Openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft comprehensively scored 172 runs on the final day of before lunch on the final day to secure their win.

Warner finished unbeaten on 87 off 119 balls with newbie Bancroft hitting the winning runs to remain 82 not out off 182 balls in Australia’s 173 without loss.

In the process, they broke an 87-year-old Test record for the all-time highest unbeaten opening partnership in a successful Test chase.

“We had to show some really good character throughout. Obviously losing the toss, and the wicket was a lot slower than we anticipated it would be. We had to work really hard,” cricket Australia quoted captain Steve Smith.

“I am pleased with the way we have played. Bowling first at The Gabba, it’s hard. The bowlers had to be on. The way we pulled it back to win from the position we were in it’s extremely pleasing. I’m proud of the way the boys fought.”

The Australians only needed 56 runs on the final morning go one up after England imploded on Sunday’s fourth day.

England captain Joe Root said the result did not tell the full story. “For three days we were excellent. Bar Steve’s knock we were right in it,” he said, referring to Smith’s battling first innings century.

“It’s frustrating. We have to move on quickly and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes in Adelaide.”

It was Warner’s 25th Test fifty and ninth in the Ashes, while debutant Bancroft posted his first half-century in only his second Test innings.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement confirmed team management have asked Bairstow about the alleged incident.

Warner said it was great to get the win without losing a wicket. “That’s what we cherish, coming out being disciplined to try and get the job done as best as possible,” he said.

Earlier, England were knocked over for 195 off 71.4 overs, losing their last six wickets for 82, to set Australia an unthreatening target to chase down in the remaining four sessions of play.

Australia stretched their unbeaten record at their Gabba fortress to 29 years since their last defeat to Viv Richards’ West Indies team in 1988.

England have not won in Brisbane in 31 years, a stretch of eight Ashes Tests. The five-Test series heads to Adelaide Oval for the first-ever Ashes day-night Test, starting on Saturday.