Probably have done the Aussies in less than 2 days with KP Sadly Lyth has looked out of his depth in most of the Test innings he's played but with the current squad system he'll get another chance in the 5th Test. Thank God we have Root.

The Ashes are won but expect an Aussie backlash in the 5th. In the longer term Root cannot be expected to always save the day after at least one of our openers fail. Lyth, Bell, Stkes and Buttler all failed with the bat in this game and take away Roots score and anything could have happened.

Well done England and the Aussies were also well done.

Ashes Meltdown: How the Aussie Media reacted: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11493352 A Kiwi newspaper giving the links to Aussie media reports - beautiful.

Yes Bairstow has had a bit of luck today. Not sure about his stance and his change to holding his bat high on the bowlers run up, but working so far. England were the highest scorers in the Australian 1st Innings with 14 Extras, second highest was Johnson with 13. Only 3 Australian batsmen scored more runs than Broad got in wickets.

Brilliant! I'm just glad I got to see today's cricket on the TV (via internet) here. Root and Bairstow playing well.

Surely that was missing Bell's leg stump, is Hawkeye infallible?

60 all out ties at 7th position in the lowest score Test history of the Aussies. Apart from v South Africa in 2011 all the low scores were v England and years ago.

21 for 5

Aussies 15 for 4 surreal and all caught at slips/wicket. Good toss to win even though Cook did say it didn't matter.

Walkin' Through The Park - Muddy Waters

Annie Lennox - Love Song For A Vampire

Cook looks an inspiring figure sulking on the balcony.

Edit: wrong identity

I want some

What odds on Bell & Root batting through?

I managed to watch every day of the 1st Test and sorry that it only lasted 4 days! Great viewing. As gumboots says the Aussie press and being very gracious in defeat although they are giving their team and Watson in particular a hardish time......................LBW - Leg before Watson, quote from Michael Vaughan I think.

H on Shane Watson selection:

Bay City Rollers - Keep on Dancing

Very good comprehensive win. I think the Aussies can only get better so great to go 1 up early on. Root is a class act.

Well he knows that Strauss and Cook would never pick no matter how many he scored in a County season. He came back to play and left when told he was forever surplus - I do not blame him. Who is the leading run scorer for England in all forms of International cricket I wonder? Anyway back to reality - good to see Bell get some runs and I hope we set the Convicts 450 to 500 to chase.

KP's Test average is still better than Cook's who because he's Captain has had many more innings now than KP - maybe helps him in scoring more runs at Test level? Cook is a great batsman - but he needs to find form or give up the Captaincy and be selected only on merit.

My Way - Frank Sinatra

Yep, need Root to stay, he's started looking more confident after that dodgy start. Ballance looking ok. Ding dong Bell? I hope the lad comes good but it's been a while. Cook - don't ask me.

Turns out to be a wicket & conditions to bowl first on. That's trying a positive spin.