Australia draw first blood

The Gabba remains a venue of despair for England, with Australia clinically closing out the first Ashes Test in Brisbane to take a 1-0 on Monday ahead of the second installment beginning in Adelaide on Saturday.

It was the seventh time Australia had vanquished England by 10 wickets in the Ashes and leaves the home side unbeaten at their Gabba fortress in 29 years.

Amid swirling news of an alleged headbutt by England keeper Jonny Bairstow on Australian opener Cameron Bancroft, emphatically played down by ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss, there was a final act to be played out on the pitch.

Needing only 56 runs for victory, David Warner and Bancroft resumed and made light work of the pursuit for a thumping 10-wicket triumph. A few dark clouds threatened overhead but England needed a biblical downpour. It never arrived as the home side reached 0/173 with minimal fuss.

Bancroft showed a cool head after finding himself all over the back pages, being given a life on 60 when he edge one off Jake Ball past first slip but looking anything but the Test match rookie otherwise. His selection over Matt Renshaw has been justified.

He hit the winning runs to finish on 82, while Warner flirted with a century before the match ended with him on 87.

SCORES IN BRIEF

ENGLAND: First innings 302

AUSTRALIA: First innings 328

ENGLAND: Second innings 195

AUSTRALIA: Second innings 173 for no loss (Warner 87 not out, Bancroft 82 not out)

Result: Australia won by 10 wickets and led the 5-match series 1-0.

Player-of-the-match: Steven Smith.