The Australian cricket squad led by fast bowler Pat Cummins and Alex Carey behind the wickets began with a customary Ashes Test result at the Gabba.
Nathan Lyon took his 400th Test wicket and promptly added three more to destroy England’s quest to preserve the opening Test.
England began Day 4 on 220-2, and Lyon struck in the fourth over, sparking an eight-wicket collapse for 77 runs.
In their second innings, Australia needed only 20 runs to beat England. They achieved it in 5.1 overs, losing just opener Alex Carey (9), and finishing with Marcus Harris (9 not out) smashing a boundary.
Australia hasn’t lost an Ashes Test at home since 2010-11 and hasn’t lost a Test against England since 1986. Lyon ended England’s third-wicket partnership of 162 runs by dismissing Dawid Malan.
Carey, who opened in the second innings after David Warner was demoted for not fielding on Day 3, collected an unprecedented eight catches for a wicketkeeper in his Test debut.
Tim Paine resigned last month after Cricket Australia revealed he had been probed for four years for sending an improper text message to a work colleague in Tasmania. Cummins became the first fast bowling captain since the 1950s. Paine was succeeded by Carey.
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“Extremely proud,” Cummins added, citing Lyon, Carey, and Travis Head’s 152 in Australia’s 425-run first-innings total.
After being bowled for 147 in the first innings and facing a 278-run deficit, Malan and Joe Root resisted the onslaught for nearly two full sessions on Friday.
But Malan (82 from 195 balls) got an inside edge from Lyon to Marnus Labuschagne at bat-pad on Day 4. Due to the Australians’ lack of Test cricket in 2021, Lyon had to wait over 11 months for his 400th wicket.
Root added three runs to his overnight total of 89, his best in an Ashes Test Down Under, before being caught behind by allrounder Cameron Green.
After Cummins squared up Ben Stokes (14) and Josh Hazlewood had Jos Buttler (23) caught behind, Lyon returned to pick up two late wickets.
Lyon bowled Ollie Robinson (8) and Mark Wood (6) before Green caught Chris Woakes (16) behind to end England’s innings.
Some questioned Root’s choice to bat first after winning the toss on Day 1 and the selection panel’s decision to exclude Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad from the XI.
Saturday’s contest was marred by a 15-minute power outage at the broadcast facility, adding to the match officials’ technical woes.
On Day 1, the TV umpire couldn’t access ball-by-ball replays to evaluate front-foot no-balls, and 12 went uncalled.
On Days 2 and 3, the Decision Review System didn’t have the capability to record “snicks” — light bat-ball contact.
Root claimed it had no effect on the pitch, but could understand the frustration of spectators. The five-match series goes to Adelaide on Thursday for a day-night Test.
