The Ashes 1st Test Day 5 ENG vs AUS Highlights: Cummins pulls off miracle, Australia beat England by 2 wickets

You can have opinions on where England went wrong, and there might be quite a few who will start with that declaration on the first day of course, but the fact remains that they were on top for much of the day before Cummins and Lyon did a Danny Ocean on them. One opinion that can't be argued with is that this match will certainly go up there with the likes of Edgbaston 2005, Headingley 2019, Cardiff 2009, Headingley 1981 and all the other great games that were played in the times of Bradman and the rest. And it is only the first Test of the series which has been advertised as the “most awaited Ashes in a generation”. The first Test certainly lived up to that billing. 

[Australia support] "Huge all week, been outnumbered but stuck in there. Been great. [Chances at when walked out to bat?] Pretty good, the wicket didn't have too many demons in it. I thought it was well within our grasp. {Lyon four off Broad] I looked at him, he walked past and said 'nice shot Garry!' Think he was happy. [Australia approach] Both team spoke about their styles and that's the beauty of the series. We'll both play to our strengths. Don't know which is better but makes for good entertainment. [Khawaja] Incredible composure, played his own method didn't get caught up. Been class the last couple of years, to have someone like that in the middle for others to play around. Really happy for him. He had a good feel for the wicket, everyone else tried to play their little role. [Lyon] He's huge, both innings. He's played 120 Tests, he takes key wickets, he's a superstar. He's calm, he goes about his work. [Make up for Headingley 2019?] Don't know what you're talking about, mate!"

"Very proud to take it to the end of day five like that, to have all the emotions, it was so up and down. It's another game we'll never forget we've been a part of. That's what we want to do, and get people on the edge of their seats. Hopefully we've managed to attract the attention of some more people to watch the Ashes for the next four games. A loss is a loss. We've said how we were going to operate. Losing hurts and winning is a great feeling. We're going to keep making moves if we feel the time is right and if we end up on the wrong side of results like this, there won't be much to complain about. [Declaration] That was an opportunity to pounce on Australia, no batsman like to go out for 20 mins at the end of the day, and I sensed an opportunity to take two wickets. [Moeen injury] Would have been great to have Moeen, but I think Rooty did a fantastic job. I told Mo to tell me if his finger was sore. For him to put himself through the pain barrier, I've got no complaints. [Root] Incredible, for your senior batter to play the way he did yesterday. The game was in the balance and the bravery to go out and play as he did was unbelievable. The effort and energy from Robbo and Broady at the end was incredible. Broad is up there absolutely cooked. He's put his body on the line, long may it continue."

He scored 141 off 321 and 65 off 197, two gritty innings, batted practically every day of this Test. "Not going to lie, I was absolutely s***ing myself for the last five minutes there. It's so heart-wrenching. An unbelievable game. I watched 2005, stayed up late. We had Stokesy play an unbelievable innings last Ashes, but this is definitely one of my favourite Test matches. I was watching it in the changing room on a delay, I had to stay there. [Personal contribution] It's right up there, an Ashes, I've had some hard times here. The ebb and flow, no one had the game until the end. One of my favourite Tests. Tough work [on previous[ tours but nice to get off to a good start on this one. Four more Ashes Tests left."

Cummins takes his team over the line. Well Pat Cummins and a misfield but who cares about that. England have been brilliant in the field today but just this one time, they spill it over the boundary. Cummins squirted a short of a length delivery from Robinson fine, two fielders converged at the boundary, one of them threw the ball to the other but it only went past the boundary! Cummins and Lyon were running hard but when the ball goes past the ropes, the Australian captain throws off his helmet and bat and runs towards his partner. He lifts Lyon up. The partnership between these two has ended on 55 off 72. Australia were 209/7 when Cummins had walked in, they ended up adding 81 runs for the next two wickets. Incredible. 

A single off the last ball of that Broad over, Cummins retains strike. Broad looks absolutely spent, he is bending down after wearing his hat and getting to his field position.

Totally botched pull from Lyon off Broad that goes just out of reach for Pope at short leg. Australia need 4 to win. How many finger slits are you watching this through! There are many on the ground who have covered their eyes entirely. 

...And Stokes ran in taking his hat off. It looked like he might go for it but then it seems Broad talks him off it. He will continue from the other end. We are down to the last embers of this truly extraordinary match. It will certainly go into the pantheon of great Ashes Tests. 

Scenes at Edgbaston as Stokes, Anderson, Root, Robinson, Broad and Pope all come together. Unclear if they are trying a brainstorming session or if they are just trying to slow things down. Cummins and Lyon have ice flowing through their veins at the moment. Robinson does come in from the other end, Australia need 5 to win. With the light fading, this could be one of the last overs, if not the last one itself. 

Lyon has middled this flick over mid-on off Broad off the fourth ball of the 90th. Australia now need 7 to win. England can't believe what's happening here surely. This match was in the bag for them and now they look set to go 1-0 down in the Ashes.

They are 12 runs away. Eight overs left in the day. Cummins on strike having scored 37 so far off 56 balls in this heroic innings for his side, Lyon at the other end on 10 off 24. They have put up 42 runs. Quite unbelievable scenes at Edgbaston, as was the case back in 2005.

Australia 267/8, partnership between Lyon and Cummins is on 40. The Australian dressing room certainly has a few more smiles than there were a few minutes back. This game has certainly turned in Australia's favour here.

Cummins drives Robinson off the third ball, Crawley comes across and seems to stop it with the slide but ends up kicking the ball to the rope. Australia need 17 to win!

Not Anderson. Robinson has looked far more in control. Cummins on 30 off 49, on strike.

Australia need 23 to win! Full on off from Broad, Lyon brings out the off drive and it rolls to the boundary unimpeded.

At long last, the new cherry is in Broad's hands and Lyon is on strike. Stokes is pushing the field back whenever Cummins gets on strike, England are clearly spooked by the runs this partnership has stolen. It's on 27 off as many.

Lyon on strike, he was almost dismissed last over. Cummins at the other end on 28 off 44. England need 2 wickets, Australia need 30 runs. You could cut the tension with a gigantic sword at Edgbaston. For those who have watched Bleach, yes, think of Ichigo Kurosaki's Zanpakuto in the initial run of the show. 

Broad keeps targetting his body, Cummins keeps making room and he hits it to the boundary off side off the second attempt. Australia need 30 to win.

Lyon pulls one into the packed leg side field, Stokes gets to the ball with his outstretched hand while he falls back but spills it after he hits the ground. Oh, England can't believe it.

Robinson and Anderson have also been warming up so it does look like there will be a double change. But Broad still has the old ball.

A single off the ball after that six, and then Cummins hits him down the ground again. Not to jinx it or anything but Australia are not going to do a Headingley 2019 on Ben Stokes and England are they? Australia need 37 runs to win.

Root floats it up, Cummins takes the bait and nails it, sends it soaring over the bowler's head.

Into the last hour, Root continues and Cummins is on strike. It will be all about racing hearts and flying chances now. Minimum 15 overs remaining in the day.

And breath. It has spiced up a lot in the last half an hour, especially since that wicket of Carey fell. Cummins ran a tight single off the last ball of that over, Stokes ran after the ball himself and throws it at the non-striker's end. It hits Cummins as he completes the run and both captains end up on the ground. Stokes holds up his hand in apology, Cummins gets up and accepts it.

Lyon is on strike with Cummins at the other end. He gets off strike first ball after which follows Cummins with a short one as the Australian captain made room.