Australia win Ashes classic as Cummins finishes off 2-wicket win over England in first Test

BIRMINGHAM, England: Pat Cummins threw off his helmet, tossed away his bat and wheeled away in celebration after playing a captain’s innings to win an Ashes classic for Australia on Tuesday.

England’s “Bazball” cricket revolution got a lesson from Down Under in an opening Test of the series that went down to the wire on the final day.

Chasing 281 at a raucous Edgbaston, the Australians reached the target inside the final hour for a two-wicket win after Usman Khawaja hit a patient 65 and Cummins finished the job with an unbeaten 44 containing two sixes and four fours.

“Both teams spoke a lot about playing your own style,” Cummins said about triumphing over England’s aggressive approach under Ben Stokes. “And that’s the beauty of this series. Two contrasting styles, playing to our strengths and that made for great entertainment.”

Cummins shared a match-winning ninth-wicket partnership of 55 with Nathan Lyon (16 not out), hitting the winning boundary against Ollie Robinson — Harry Brook failed to stop the ball at the rope — as Australia finished on 282-8. It disappointed the majority of a loud crowd that sensed another memorable victory at the Birmingham ground after England’s two-run win in the second Ashes Test in 2005.

“We are, of course, absolutely devastated,” Stokes said. “The lads are in pieces up there. But if that’s not attracting people to the game we love then I don’t know what will.”

Jubilant and possibly surprised Australian fans at the stadium chanted “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” after their team’s remarkable win.

Khawaja, who hit his first Test century in England in the first innings, faced 197 deliveries as he anchored most of Australia’s successful run chase on a still-docile pitch before