Harsh lesson for England as Australia win first Ashes Test: here's what happened

Considering the tourists are only likely to get better as the series goes on, the chances of England lifting the trophy for the first time since 1970 already look slim with two games still to play. Even avoiding a 3-0 whitewash will be a tall order.

Australia were better all round, despite a far from perfect display and it’s hard to see how England will turn the tide. They actually made a really solid start, but committed errors whenever they got within sight of the Aussies’ line. That was an issue throughout and is inevitably a fatal failing against such good opposition.

Defensively, the hosts coped well for long spells, but any lapses were punished ruthlessly. Nathan Cleary’s long pass began the game’s first serious attack, after 22 minutes. Eventual man of the match Reece Walsh fed Mark Nawaqanitawase, he supplied Kotoni Staggs and the centre’s final pass was finished - with an elaborate dive - by Walsh. Referee Liam Moore handed the decision on as a try and it was confirmed by video assistant Jack Smith. The clearly forward pass to Staggs wasn’t within his remit and though it appeared Mikey Lewis had been obstructed in the build-up, the English official decided there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the on-field call.

Cleary converted and added the only other points of the first half with the final kick, after Jez Litten was penalised for taking out Walsh off the ball. The Kangaroos got over England’s line three minutes earlier, through Angus Crichton, but video ref Smith backed the on-field call of ‘no try’, Dom Young having been tackled in the air by Josh Addo-Carr.

England created two good chances in the final 11 minutes of the opening period, both on their left flank. Jake Wardle burst into space with Lewis in support, but Walsh knocked down the pass to prevent a try. Then, moments before the penalty goal, George Williams and Wardle combined nicely to send Tom Johnstone on a run, but rather than taking on the Aussie cover, the Wakefield Trinity man kicked in-goal and the ball rolled dead just before Jack Welsby could get there.

At 8-0, England were still in it, though it was an uphill task. They had a mountain to climb when Crichton went between Williams and Alex Walmsley to coast over for a soft try - which Cleary converted - within five minutes of the restart. England had already had one escape, when Herbie Farnworth, who had a good game, ankle-tapped Addo-Carr after Walsh’s 70-metre run, but once the second try was scored, the result was not in doubt. Surprisingly, the Kangaroos took until 15 minutes from time to add a third try, through Crichton off Cameron Munster’s pass, but it looked like getting nasty when Walsh grabbed a superb second - from a move involving Cleary, the scorer himself and Shibasaki.

Cleary converted both, but at least England avoided a nilling, thanks to Daryl Clark going over from close-range in the closing moments. Williams added the two, but many of the 60,000 crowd were heading for the exits by that stage. The try came on the back of successive penalties and the count finished four-three in England’s favour.

England: Welsby, D Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone, Williams, Lewis, Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles. Subs Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.

Australia: Walsh, Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr, Munster, Cleary, Carrigan, Grant, Fa'asuamaleaui, Crichton, H Young, Yeo. Subs Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.

Referee: Liam Moore (England). Attendance: 60,812.