Australia thrash England in Ashes opener

Australia sealed a dominant 10-wicket victory before lunch on day five of the series-opening Ashes Test match Monday, having chased 170 runs without loss in a blow to England's pride. Steve Smith's team will head to the second Test in Adelaide this week brimming with confidence after decisively breaking England's resistance at the Gabba.

A happy @davidwarner31 after scoring an unbeaten 87 in Australia's win at the Gabba #Ashes pic.twitter.com/6TpItJt3Hz

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 27, 2017

Openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, having driven Australia to 114 at stumps on day four, needed only 56 runs to complete the win in the morning and rarely looked in danger. Vice-captain Warner finished unbeaten on 87, with Bancroft 82 not out after enjoying a maiden half-century in his Test debut.

England will be gutted. So near to nudging Australia out of the test and getting blown away eventually. That is why test cricket is so good, need to perform over 5 days

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 27, 2017

The debutant finished the match in style, bringing up the wins by smashing all-rounder Chris Woakes to the long-off fence twice, sparking a roar from the modest Monday crowd of 6,154. Four years after thrashing Alastair Cook's England by 386 runs at the Gabba on the way to a 5-0 whitewash in 2013/14, Australia extended their unbeaten record at the venue against their old foes to 31 years.

159-0. This is now Australia's highest opening stand in the Ashes since Langer & Hayden put on 189 at The Oval in 2005.

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) November 27, 2017

With Mike Gatting's team the last English side to win at the Gabba in 1986, captain Joe Root had said his team were about due for a breakthrough. And at the end of day three, with the match still in the balance, paceman Stuart Broad said they were the best-positioned they had been in 30 years to win at the ground.

Australia has a more potent bowling attack. And English batting is a little frail. That decided the fate of the game in the end. Love Test cricket. #Ashes

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 27, 2017

It all smacked of bravado after lunch on day four, however, as England lost 5-40 during a fierce pace assault to be skittled for 195 in their second innings. Australia were left needing 170 runs for victory and Warner and Bancroft batted superbly after tea to drive the host to 114 without loss.

Australia win the first Test by 10 wickets and take a 1-0 series lead.https://t.co/1xc8nkRzk4#Ashes pic.twitter.com/VL5g0m0r0x

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 27, 2017

The game had enthralled for three days. Australia's fast bowlers struggled to capitalise on their edge in pace on a surprisingly slow and tepid Gabba pitch, while England's rookie batsmen showed impressive composure in their Ashes debuts.

Should be a fairly relaxing morning for Australia’s pace aces #Ashes pic.twitter.com/lyJqc4fNXY

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 26, 2017

While opener Mark Stoneman, James Vince and Dawid Malan all scored half-centuries, none could go on to really make Australia pay or stand up under pressure in the second innings when it really counted.BRIEF SCOREEngland 302 & 195 lost to Australia 328 & 173/0 in 50 overs (Warner 87*, Bancroft 82*) by 10 wickets