Australia complete the formalities in Brisbane

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Australia wrapped up a ten wicket victory over England in Brisbane to take a 1-0 series lead in the Ashes on Monday.

David Warner and Cameron Bancroft resumed needing just 56 runs to get the hosts over the line and they managed to avoid any jittery moments to seal the deal.

The home side ended on 173 without loss in fifty overs.

Australia would not lose a wicket in completing the chase and scored their seventh ten wicket victory over England in the history of the contest.

Warner would end unbeaten on 87 while Bancroft managed 82 to mark a solid debut after his first innings failure.

Australia’s unbeaten run at the GABBA has been further extended with the last Test defeat in Brisbane coming against the fearsome West Indies team of the 1980s.

Once Australia had eased close enough to the target Bancroft finished things off in style by smacking three fours off Chris Woakes denying Warner the outside chance he had to score a century.

Australia skipper Steve Smith was awarded the man of the match award for his game changing 141 in the first innings which would be the only century recorded during the Test.

The series now moves to Adelaide with the first day/night Ashes Test set to get underway on Saturday December 2.

While Australia’s performance wasn’t perfect England certainly have the most to work on ahead of the second Test.

The tourists lacked potency with ball in hand on a wicket that turned out to be flatter than expected and the lower order failed to provide the runs England would have hoped for.

Australia do look heavily reliant on skipper Smith to get big runs and while Shaun Marsh and Cameron Bancroft have probably done enough to retain their places Usman Khawaja will be under pressure especially after Glenn Maxwell’s double ton in the Shield this week.

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