England vs Australia 1st Test Highlights, Ashes 2023: Australia register thrilling two-wicket win over England

UPDATE - 3.21 pm IST (9.51 am GMT) - It should have been the players having a go in the middle of the park, but not yet, as the rain gods have decided to hang around for a bit longer and hence only the covers are enjoying some time out on the field at the moment. Lunch will be taken at 5 pm IST (11.30 am GMT) and it looks unlikely that the game will start before that. As mentioned earlier, the forecast for the afternoon is much more promising. Fingers crossed!

UPDATE - 2.50 pm IST (9.20 am GMT) - It was predicted right from the start that the rain gods would make their appearance on the final day and they have not disappointed. It has been pouring heavily through the night at Edgbaston and the intensity of the rain has not reduced yet. We are most likely headed for a delayed start but the good news is that the forecast for the afternoon indicates that there will be some sun shining through and we could get enough time to get a result out of this game. Stay tuned for further updates.

England looked to apply their Bazball approach from the word go and accumulate runs quickly at the start of Day 4 in the quest for a result. Two 50-run partnerships scored at better than a run a ball helped push their lead beyond the 150-run mark by Lunch with Joe Root and Harry Brook both scoring 46. Ben Stokes made 43 as well but the tail could not contribute as well as they would have liked and were bundled out for 273. They were unable to get the breakthrough early with the ball and just when the game seemed to be slipping out of their grasp, Ollie Robinson broke the opening partnership to give his side a glimmer of hope. It was Stuart Broad who came to the party after that as he dismissed the number 1 and number 2 Test batters in quick time to shift the pendulum in the favor of the hosts. Which team will come out on top on the final day? Stay tuned to find out as we shall be with you shortly for the first ball of Day 5.

Australia got a lucky break when they dismissed the two England openers in overcast conditions on Day 3 but will be really proud of their efforts with the ball on Day 4 as they managed to bowl out their opponents in two sessions. Pat Cummins led the way with a four-wicket haul and Nathan Lyon once again proved why he is becoming a Test legend for Australia as he took a four-fer as well in pace-friendly conditions. Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland chipped in with one wicket each as they set themselves a target of 281 runs. The openers started well with a 61-run partnership and this game looked to be headed towards an Aussie win but the wickets of David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steven Smith have pegged them back sightly. Usman Khawaja is still unbeaten on 34 with the night watchman Scott Boland for company and they will look to negotiate a difficult period in the morning to set up a win.

Hello, and a warm welcome, ladies and gentlemen to our coverage of the fifth and final day in this first Ashes Test. Day 4 proved to be the moving day after Day 3 was affected heavily by rains and the game has reached an interesting juncture. The game is nicely poised with Australia needing 174 runs to win while on the other hand, England are 7 wickets away from clinching a massive victory against the Test Champions. We expected this Ashes to have us on the edge of our seats and the first game has not disappointed as we expect some more entertaining cricket to come our way. Fasten your seat belts as this match could go right down to the wire and we could have a thriller just like the 2005 Ashes Test match in Edgbaston.

... DAY 5, SESSION 1 ...

What an epic battle we are witnessing here between two cricketing rivals and there is still more excitement to come our way. Australia will know that one substantial partnership will get them close to the target while England have their tails up with three late wickets. The action continues on Tuesday 20th June for the final day of the first Ashes Test match and the first ball will be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10.00 am GMT) but do join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The first two sessions belonged to Australia as they ran through the English batting line-up and claimed 8 wickets to set themselves an achievable target. England were off to a positive start with Joe Root playing some wonderful shots to get the scoreboard ticking. He added 50 runs with Ollie Pope in quick time and then stitched together a 52-run partnership with Harry Brook in 49 deliveries to build on the lead. Pope was dismissed by Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon managed to dismiss Root and Brook with both falling four runs short of their half-century before the Lunch interval. Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes looked to settle in the crease before going on the onslaught but Stokes was dismissed by his counterpart and Bairstow fell to Lyon soon after. Josh Hazlewood picked up his first wicket of the inning by dismissing Moeen Ali before both Cummins and Lyon reached their four-fer by cleaning up the tail. 

SESSION SUMMARY - 107 runs, 30 overs, 3 wickets. This tie has completely opened up in the last hour or so and the match hangs gingerly poised with both teams hopeful of their chances going into Day 5. Australia tried to be positive right through this inning as they looked to hunt down this target of 281 runs but may have played a few more deliveries than they would have liked. They came out after Tea to start their second inning with both the openers looking to accumulate the runs and not be bogged down. They forged a 61-run partnership in 109 deliveries and looked to be cruising then. David Warner, unfortunately, played at a ball that was moving away from him off the bowling of Ollie Robinson and nicked one through to Jonny Bairstow. Marnus Labuschagne played a few confident-looking shots but edged a beauty from Stuart Broad to the keeper. Things got better for England when Broad got the big wicket of Steven Smith and Bairstow claimed his third catch of the inning. Usman Khawaja has held one end though and he is unbeaten on 34 runs as he looks to play another important knock to bail his side out of trouble. Scott Boland came out as a nightwatchman and has managed to survive through to Stumps adding 13 runs to the total as well. The equation is now simple for Day 5. Australia need 174  runs for victory and England need to take 7 wickets to win this first Ashes Test match.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Very full and just outside off. Boland plays and misses this through to the keeper. A stifled appeal but the umpire is unmoved. Umpire Ahsan Raza takes the bails off and that will be Stumps on Day 4.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Hard-length delivery on off. Boland hangs back and blocks it to short leg fielder.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, FOUR! STREAKY! Bowls the inswinger, angled in around off. Boland gets forward and edges it along the carpet between the slips as the ball races to the third man fence for four runs.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Back of a length delivery zips past the outside edge of Boland who fends at it as the ball goes through.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Goes short again and angled in around off. Boland ducks again and leaves it toward Bairstow.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Short of a length, outside off. Boland ducks and lets it go.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Flat and outside off. Left alone by Khawaja.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Slightly short and spins a tad around off. Khawaja drops it off the splice past the slip fielder toward short third reigon.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Tosses this one on off. Khawaja prods and defends.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Flatter on off. Khawaja stays back and defends.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Slider on the leg peg. Khawaja turns it off the pad into the leg side.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Fraction short at the stumps. Khawaja goes back and defends.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, A dot to end the over. Back of a length this time, outside off. Boland has punched off the backfoot toward covers.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, On a good length, angled in on off. Boland gets behind the line and defends it.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Continues to bowl full and attacks the stumps. Boland works it through backward square leg region and collects two more.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Full again, angling into the middle and leg. Boland gets across and flicks it to fine leg region for a couple. Joe Root gives the chase and stops it just inside the ropes. Saves 2 for his side. 

Stuart Broad to Usman Khawaja, Goes full and around off this time. Khawaja steers it through covers for one.

Stuart Broad to Usman Khawaja, FOUR! Easy Pickings! Length ball, angled down the leg. Khawaja flicks it nicely to the fine leg region for four valuable runs.

James Anderson to Scott Boland, Tad short of a good length and angles in on the fourth stump. Boland shoulders his arms and lets it pass.

James Anderson to Scott Boland, Full-length delivery at the stumps. Boland defends it to silly mid on.

James Anderson to Scott Boland, Length ball again, closer to the stumps this time. Boland plays inside the line as the ball zips through to Bairstow.

James Anderson to Scott Boland, Good length delivery, shapes away outside off. Left alone by Boland.

James Anderson to Scott Boland, FOUR! Through the gap! Back of a length delivery outside off. Boland stands tall and cuts it through the backward point region for a fine boundary.

James Anderson to Scott Boland, Short of a length, zips past outside off. Boland is ducking under it and lets it go.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Hard-length delivery, angled into the batter. Boland tucks it nicely past the short leg fielder and gets off the mark with one.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Good length delivery at the off-stump. Boland defends to the left of the bowler.

Stuart Broad to Scott Boland, Full-length delivery, angled in just outside off. Boland shoulders his arms on it.

Scott Boland makes his way out to the middle as the night watchman. 

Stuart Broad to Steven Smith, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Edged and taken by Jonny Bairstow! Stuart Broad gets the massive wicket of Steven Smith and he is the man of the moment for England having sent Australia's two best batters back to the shed. He angles this into the stumps from outside off on a fullish length and gets the ball to move away after pitching. Smith is induced into the drive and gets a faint edge through to Bairstow behind the stumps who takes another easy catch. England are on a roll and Australia have lost three quick wickets to see the pendullum shift in favor of the hosts. 

Stuart Broad to Steven Smith, Good length delivery at the fourth stump line. Smith shuffles across and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Stuart Broad to Steven Smith, Goes very full and angles into the off stump line. Smith shuffles across to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pad. A huge appeal from Broad bu the umpire is unmoved. The replays suggest that this has taken an edge off the blade and onto the pad and then rolls away to Bairstow behind the stumps.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, Angles this into the stumps on a good length from 'round the wicket. Usman Khawaja blocks this solidly towards mid on. 

James Anderson to Steven Smith, Bowls this back of a length and outside off. Steven Smith punches this to the left of mid off and sets off for a quick single. 

James Anderson to Steven Smith, NO BALL! Delivers this further outside off on a good length. Steven Smith shoulders his arms to this one. James Anderson has overstepped though and it is a no ball. 

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, Back to bowling on a good length and outside the off stump. Usman Khawaja pushes this towards cover-point and takes another run. 

James Anderson to Steven Smith, Pulls his length back a fraction and on an off-stump line. Steven Smith gets across the line of the stumps and tucks this towards deep backward square leg for a single. 

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, On a good length this time and outside the off pole. Usman Khawaja knocks this towards backward point and takes one. 

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, James Anderson bowls this full and into the pads. Usman Khawaja flicks this towards the mid-wicket fielder. 

Stuart Broad to Steven Smith, Delivers this outside the off stump on a good length. Steven Smith keeps this one out watchfully. 

Stuart Broad to Steven Smith, Back to bowling on a good length and outside off. Steven Smith blocks this back down the pitch. 

Stuart Broad to Steven Smith, FOUR! Steven Smith is prepared for the bouncer and gets off the mark in a commanding fashion! This is banged in short and outside the off pole. Steven Smith rocks back and pulls this towards deep backward square leg for four runs.