Australia crush England to take Ashes lead

@CricketAus/ Twitter

Australia defeated England by 251 runs to win the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

Chasing an imposing victory target of 398, England were bowled out for 146 before tea. 

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took 6-49 and fast bowler Pat Cummins 4-32 as Australia registered their first victory in all formats at Edgbaston since 2001.

Defeat for the hosts ended their run of 11 successive international wins at the venue.

Man of the match, Steve Smith scored 144 and 142, becoming just the fifth Australian to score two hundreds in an Ashes Test.

The second Test of the five-match series starts at Lord's on August 14.

  

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