The Ashes first Test: Scores, news and highlights from day 1 at the Gabba

Debutant captain Pat Cummins is in the box seat to become the first fast bowling skipper to lead Australia to a Test victory after ripping apart England at the Gabba. Re-live all the Day 1 action here.

David Warner with Nathan Lyon (L) and Pat Cummins (R)

On his first day in the job “Perfect Pat” Cummins positioned himself to become the first fast bowling captain in history to lead Australia to a Test victory.

Cummins’ blistering five-wicket haul to destroy England on day one broke new ground for fast bowlers and showed he is a man capable of changing the way people think about the game.

The fact Cummins is the only out-and-out quick bowler since Ray Lindwall, who skippered a drawn Test in 1956, to lead the country shows how rare it is, and any fears that the burden of leadership might diminish his potency as the world’s No.1 strike weapon were instantly laid to rest.

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In a vibe similar to his Test debut as an 18-year-old in South Africa, Cummins simply looked at home in his new reality – with the way he empowered under pressure teammate Mitchell Starc to charge onto the Gabba breathing fire every bit as important as his own devastating bowling.

Starc struck down England opener Rory Burns with the very first ball of the series in a moment that will live on in history, before Josh Hazlewood came on and turned the screws in typical style to have England reeling at 3-11 inside six overs.

Hazlewood removed the head of the England snake Joe Root for a duck, while captain Cummins claimed the scalp of the other danger man Ben Stokes for just 5 as the tourists collapsed to be all out for 147 in just 50.1 overs before Queensland thunderstorms stopped play.

It saved Australia’s batsmen from what might have been a tricky period under dark Brisbane skies, although England’s camp is in disarray after Cummins became only the second Australian seamer captain to take five wickets since George Giffen who was an allrounder way back in 1895 – 126 years ago.

“It’s just a dream start really. It wasn’t a bad toss to lose and obviously Starcy started it all off, but all the bowlers really did our job and to keep them to 150 I’m really proud of how persistent everyone was,” said Cummins.

“Personally it was nice to get a couple of wickets at the end to make it a five-for, it was a really good start.”

Cummins said his first experience of balancing bowling responsibilities with captaincy assured him that the system he has in place with Steve Smith as a hands-on vice-captain can work at Test level.

“It was bit of a different dynamic, totally manageable. I had a lot of help from Steve and a lot of the other guys who threw ideas my way and the bowlers are all old pros,” said Cummins.

“It was a bit of a different dynamic. I was just trying to wipe sweat off my hands. Even after the first couple of hours I found it more natural really.”

Cummins said he was “pumped” for Starc, who came into the Test under enormous pressure, before producing an all-time moment which brought a near full house at the Gabba to its feet.

The Australian skipper joined Starc in admitting shock that England had overlooked more than 1000 wickets of experience in Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

“We thought one of those two would play in every game if not both of them,” said Cummins.

Pat Cummins leaves the Gabba after taking five wickets.

Nathan Lyon is still stranded on 399 Test wickets as he chases a historic 400th, but 22-year-old all-rounder Cameron Green enjoyed his moment in the sun – claiming his maiden Test wicket after failing to take one in four matches last summer against India.

His wicket was celebrated after the first of two brilliant outfield diving catches forward by Hazlewood – indicative of a perfect day in the field for the Australians where every chance was taken.

Root and Stokes – two of the world’s best – were always going to be the prized scalps, and Hazlewood and Cummins hunted them like sharks smelling blood in the water.

“For sure, they’re just big players. They’ve both toured out here before and I’ve played a lot against them,” said Cummins.

“It’s nice when they don’t get a good look and don’t face too many balls. They’re a huge part of their batting line up, and the blueprint to bowl to Joe Root is high quality relentless bowling and it was nice to get Stokes’ wicket. It was a nice all-round performance, and everything went to plan today.”

FIVE MOMENTS THAT MADE DAY 1 

1. There was debate raging about Mitchell Starc’s place in the side but it was a magic moment when he became the first man in 85 years to strike on the first ball of an Ashes series, crashing it into Rory Burns’ leg stump.

2. Pat Cummins’ first wicket as Test captain was a momentous one – lining Ben Stokes up with a brute of a delivery and then having England’s talisman caught at slip.

3. Joe Root had scored 1455 Test runs this year but didn’t add to it when man of precision Josh Hazlewood set him up and got one decking away which had Root snapped up at slip.

Josh Hazlewood claimed the key wicket of Joe Root. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

4. What a memory for tall timber Cameron Green when he snared his first Test wicket, bouncing out Ollie Pope as Hazlewood flew through the air to complete an incredible fine leg snare.

5. Michelle Pfeiffer – A five-for (Pfeiffer) for Cummins. What a remarkable way to start your new life as Aussie Test captain.

Recap all the action in our blog below.