Ashes | Australia blow away England resistance in just one session to win at fortress Gabba

Australia picked up eight wickets in the morning session of Day 4 to put a halt to England’s resistance in the first Test of the Ashes series. In a near perfect two and a half hours of play, Australia skittled England out from 220/2 to just 297 runs, to effect a demoralising loss in the first Test.

The visitors were left hapless against all the Australian bowlers as they fell one by one unable to judge the length, flight or the line of the delivery. The leader of the attack on Saturday, 11 December was Nathan Lyon, who went wicketless in the first innings of the game.

He effected a crucial breakthrough of Dawid Malan, the left hander who had negotiated him with relative ease on the day before. But, on Saturday, Lyon’s mixing of flight and his ability to get extra bounce from the surface got the better of the #3 batter and that ended up opening the floodgates for England. In the process, Lyon became only the third Australian to take 400 or more wickets, and etched his name in the records books. In terms of wickets tally, he only stands behind Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Soon to follow Malan were Ollie Pope, captain Joe Root, whose century drought in Australia grows dire by the day. During his 89 runs innings, Root notched up his seventh 50 in Australia but he has not been able to convert a single one of them into a big total.

Today, Root was sent home by Aussie youngster Cameron Green, who did just about enough to seam the ball away from the right hander to kiss the outside edge of his bat.

From there it was just a waiting game before England folded and a collective bowling effort made sure that it did not take too long.

England set up just 20 runs as target to the Australians, which was brought up in no time, but not before the visitors managed to take the wicket of makeshift opener Alex Carey.

The left handed debutant opened the innings to protect David Warner, who opted out of both batting and fielding owing to a rib injury sustained in the first innings.

Speaking after the game, England captain Joe Root took responsibility for the loss and stated they needed to bat better. He insisted that the team knows the areas that they need to get better, and they will work upon them in the lead up to the second Test match.