Australia Beat England by 8 Wickets in Ashes 1st Test (1–0 Lead)

Australia started the 2025 Ashes series in dominant fashion, defeating England by 8 wickets in the first Test and taking a 1–0 lead in the five-match series. The match, played under challenging batting conditions, saw dramatic collapses from both teams, but Australia’s composure in the final innings made the difference.

England batted first and were bowled out for 175 runs. Their top order struggled against Australia’s pace attack, with wickets falling regularly. Australia’s reply was even more dramatic as they were bundled out for just 137, giving England a narrow but crucial lead in the first innings.

However, England failed to capitalize. In their second innings, they collapsed again, this time for 165 all out, leaving Australia a target of 202 runs to win the match.

Australia’s chase was calm, confident, and controlled. Travis Head played a magnificent innings of 123 runs*, anchoring the chase with class and authority. His stroke-making and temperament kept Australia in complete command throughout the run chase.

Australia finished the chase at 205/2, securing a comfortable 8-wicket victory.

The standout performer of the match was Mitchell Starc, whose lethal fast bowling across both innings earned him the Player of the Match award. His ability to swing the ball at high pace troubled England’s batsmen consistently and played a key role in England’s downfall.

With this victory, Australia now lead the Ashes series 1–0, gaining early momentum and putting England under pressure as the teams prepare for the second Test.