Australia ease past England to win in Brisbane
Australia completed a 10 wicket victory over England in Brisbane, as they took a 1-0 lead in the 2017-18 Ashes.
Brisbane has seldom been a happy hunting place for England sides of years past, with Ian Botham inspiring the last England victory at the Gabba in 1986.
However, despite a promising opening two days in the sweltering heat of Brisbane, the home side once again emerged victorious, as the glaring deficiencies which have so often been the Achilles heel of this England side in recent years were shown up once again.
Although Steve Smith’s wonderfully crafted century gave his side the momentum, the manner in which England pitifully collapsed under a modicum of pressure in their second innings, slipping from 62-2 to 113-5 and then 185-6 to 195 all out reeks of unwanted memories from recent test series.
Set a target of 170, the Australian opening duo of David Warner and Cameron Bancroft guided their side home with ease, as the England pace attack failed to replicate the damage their Australian counterparts had inflicted.
Despite England’s overall poor performance at the Gabba, the first innings efforts of Ashes newbie’s Mark Stoneman, James Vince and Dawid Malan, will give England grounds for optimism as they head to Adelaide aiming to bring the series level.