21/11Result
1st Test, England tour of Australia at Brisbane, Nov 21-24 2013
Australia won by 381 runs
Player of the Match
Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell JohnsonAustralia
21/11Result
1st Test, England tour of Australia at Brisbane, Nov 21-24 2013
Australia won by 381 runs
Player of the Match
Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell JohnsonAustralia

Day 4

2503dPhilip Brown

A circle among shadows

Two photos from the Brisbane Test, taken at (nearly) the same instant, produce two different effects

2041dESPNcricinfo staff

Clarke fined by ICC over Anderson sledge

Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, has been fined 20% of his match fee for his sledge against James Anderson during the dying stages of Australia's win in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane

2494dDaniel Brettig

Don't rein in aggression, say players

Australia's cricketers should not be reined in from the aggression they showed during the first Ashes Test and broadcasters have erred in exposing players to unnecessary sanctions from the ICC, their union chief Paul Marsh has said

2041dGeorge Dobell in Brisbane

Cook condemns "disrespectful" Warner

England's captain, Alastair Cook, has condemned David Warner's off-field implication that Jonathan Trott was afraid of the pace of Mitchell Johnson as "disrespectful"

2041dDaniel Brettig in Brisbane

Seismic victory points to power shift

Bar their stuttering start, Australia put in a world-class performance at the Gabba to inflict maximum England casualties in the first match of the summer

Day 3

Report
2041dThe Report by David Hopps

Warner and Clarke flay England

Domineering hundreds by Michael Clarke and David Warner, a declaration with an impregnable position swiftly achieved and two England wickets in the final hour: things could not have gone much better for Australia

2041dMartin Crowe

The battle Clarke can win

Michael Clarke just needs to go back to the basics and trust them to overcome his issues against the short ball; he is a wonderful player and Australia should be proud of him

2041dJarrod Kimber in Brisbane

Clarke continues Gabba love affair

The short ball was no trouble for Michael Clarke and he treated Graeme Swann with disdain as he continued his superb Brisbane form

2041dGeorge Dobell in Brisbane

One mute Swann won't ruin a summer

He may have been dismissed around the Gabba but Graeme Swann's struggles - in difficult conditions for finger spin - shouldn't deter faith in one of the great spinners

1035dMartin Crowe

The masks we wear

Often what we see of cricketers on the field is not their real selves. It's just a facade that hides the confusion that resides within

2041dDaniel Brettig in Brisbane

Warner learns to trust his instinct

David Warner is still learning to curb his natural instinct off the field when it can get him into trouble but on the field he has returned to trusting it

539dGeorge Dobell in Brisbane

Trott at crossroads with short-ball troubles

Characteristically so cool and clear of mind, Jonathan Trott is now clouded with doubt and thought as he tries to deal with an issue that could define his career

2041dDaniel Brettig in Brisbane

Trott dismissal 'pretty weak' - Warner

David Warner claimed he saw fear in Jonathan Trott's eyes after England's No. 3 completed a wretched first Ashes Test at the Gabba by flicking Mitchell Johnson to deep square leg.

Day 2

Report
2494dThe Report by David Hopps at the Gabba

Johnson sparks England's Gabba nightmare

Australia vigorously protected their long unbeaten record at the Gabba on the second afternoon of the first Test as their bowlers ran rampant to dismiss England for 136

2041dDaniel Brettig in Brisbane

Trott innings swung the day - Haddin

Brad Haddin pointed to Jonathan Trott's fraught innings before lunch and Nathan Lyon's telling two wicket contribution as the keys to Australia's dominant position at the close of day two at the Gabba

2041dJarrod Kimber in Brisbane

Enigma Johnson finds fiery best

Mitchell Johnson carried great expectations into the Gabba Test and found his best form in a brutal, and as always, unpredictable, display

2041dDaniel Brettig in Brisbane

Broad fan incitement comes home to roost

Australia have attempted to douse the flames of supporter incitement against Stuart Broad by requesting the shutdown of a Facebook page

2041dGeorge Dobell in Brisbane

Familiar tale from shell-shocked England

England's first Test collapse has has become a recurring failure and one that should be keeping Andy Flower and company awake at night

Day 1

Report
2041dThe Report by David Hopps at the Gabba

Broad undermines Australia's challenge

The wicket looks fantastic," said Michael Clarke, an Australian captain with renewed heart, as he won the toss at the start of the return Ashes series. The same could not be said of Australia's batting

2041dSambit Bal

Clarke's problem

A weakness against the short ball is more serious for a batsman than other shortcomings because of the effect it can have on a player's overall game

2041dDaniel Brettig in Brisbane

Australia strangers in their own land

There was a remarkable role reversal on day one at the Gabba as Australia resembled the tentative under-prepared team that is usually the tourists

2041dJarrod Kimber in Brisbane

No magic cave for Australia

Australia were billed as a different side to three months ago but emerged as the same flawed team with a penchant for self-sabotage

2041dGeorge Dobell in Brisbane

Abuse the catalyst for stellar Broad

Rubbished and ridiculed, Stuart Broad revelled in the abuse and delivered a performance of a skilful, experienced Test bowler

Others

2041dMark Nicholas

What fast bowling does

It gives aggro to your fielders, jitters to the opposition, and thrills to the fans

2586dRob Steen

Pump up the volume

It's time to turn the stump mikes all the way up, and leave them that way

2041dDaniel Brettig

Nathan Lyon finds his voice

When he cleared his throat to lead "Under the Southern Cross" for the first time last week, Nathan Lyon did so as Australia's undisputed No. 1 spin bowler. The path there has been bumpy

2495dMichael Jeh

Doesn't sledging hurt anyone?

Players insist that what's said on the field doesn't affect them, but then why do it at all? And why go up in arms when someone seemingly crosses the line?

2495dJonathan Wilson

The grass must be green, the strip yellow

Unlike most other sports, cricket needs to look right to its fans, from the colour of the grass, the pitch and the stumps to the quality of the light

2041dMichael Jeh

When petulant jingoism is mistaken for news

A Brisbane newspaper's campaign to vilify Stuart Broad has backfired spectacularly, and deservedly, as it wrongly portrays Australian fans as churlish and immature

2041dESPNcricinfo staff

Clarke standing up for Bailey - Warne

Shane Warne has called the ICC's decision to fine Michael Clarke "a disgrace", claiming that Clarke was only standing up for his players after James Anderson threatened to punch George Bailey in the face.

2041dDaniel Brettig in Brisbane

Clarke conveys Australia's nerves

Michael Clarke appeared distracted during his pre-series press conference, despite the many reasons he might have had for confidence

2494dGeorge Dobell in Brisbane

No fear for England as four in a row looms

Whatever the pitches and whatever the attacks, England appear to have the stronger side, while Australia's bluff and bluster seems a sign of insecurity

2041dDaniel Brettig

Brad Haddin's well played fifty

Family illness might have swept Brad Haddin away from cricket altogether, but he has returned to Brisbane in search of the Ashes win that has always eluded him

Warne fights

I think it's a disgrace that @MClarke23 has been fined. What about what Anderson said to Bailey, which wasn't heard

Shane Warne on ICC decision to fine Clarke