The first Ashes Test match at Edgbaston came to a dramatic close as Pat Cummins led Australia to a famous victory, erasing the scars of Edgbaston 2005 and Headingley 2019.
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Edgbaston 2023 was following Edgbaston 2005 with spooky similarities. Back then, Australia had fallen short of their target of 282 by two runs and at 227-8, with 54 runs to go, things were looking ominous for the visitors once again today (June 20).
Cummins and Nathan Lyon, however, had other ideas. In a partnership that had everyone on the edge of their seats, Cummins and Lyon showed remarkable calmness given the situation and eventually took Australia home with less than five overs to spare.
England tried everything they could. Ben Stokes bowled a seven-over spell for just nine runs and the all-important wicket of Usman Khawaja. But it didn’t prove to be enough.
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With three runs required, Cummins guided a short ball outside off by Ollie Robinson towards third man. It never looked like it was going to the boundary until it did. And just like that, Cummins & Co erased the scars of Edgbaston 2005.
Social media was expectedly abuzz having watched a classic Test match that went right down to the wire.
Just two captains discussing one of the greatest Tests of all time. What a show this has been from Pat Cummins, Ben Stokes and their teams #Ashes pic.twitter.com/mvhnTJodLW
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 20, 2023
Australia seemed to have pinned Ollie Robinson’s “they’ve got 3 No.11s” on the dressing room wall.
This has been brilliant from their tail (and Boland earlier) #Ashes
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) June 20, 2023
Apparently England kept one eye on the status of test matches and it’s future. You need 2 eyes on the goal to beat world champions. Disappointed they didn’t think they needed 2 eyes on the prize. Not impressed as a neutral viewer.
— Cricket With Ash (@CricketWithAsh) June 20, 2023
That Ollie Robinson line about Australia having ‘three No. 11s’ hasn’t aged terrifically well, has it?
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) June 20, 2023
Just a stupid Test match all round. Bazball vs boundary riders. Harry Brook bowling to Steve fucken Smith. A root masterclass. Usman and his kid stealing the show. Moeen with half a finger. Stokes with what is left of his knees. And Australia’s worst tail ever getting it done.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) June 20, 2023
Top 9th wkt partnerships in successful chases in Tests:
81 – Laxman & Ishant v Aus, Mohali 2010
61* – Dujon & Benjamin v Pak, Bridgetown 1988
56* – Cotter & Hazlitt v Eng, SCG 1907
55* – CUMMINS & LYON v Eng, Edgbaston 2023
54 – Lara & Ambrose v Aus, Bridgetown 1999#Ashes23 pic.twitter.com/9d1AuZYNR9— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) June 20, 2023
Wow! What a fantastic game of Cricket. Run rate still good😉😄
Well played both team! Test Cricket at its best #Ashes23
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) June 20, 2023
Don’t worry about the analysis, forget the tactics, just celebrate the fact that you were around when test cricket, the greatest of all sports, threw up a game like this.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 20, 2023
Most epic Test I’ve had the fortune to see live. Have been foetal all day. Sense of dread and foreboding. Australia don’t usually win these. After five days of rightful praise for Stokes’ inventive and creative leadership, Cummins shows his own class. That was ice cold.
— Sam Perry (@sjjperry) June 20, 2023
What a test match
Well done Australia
Great work EnglandCricket is the winner ❤️❤️
Test cricket 😍#Ashes23 #ENGvAUS
— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 20, 2023
Pat Cummins take a bow 👏 #Ashes23 #TestCricket 💪
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) June 20, 2023