Edgbaston thriller gives hope to classic Ashes series

Two late Stuart Broad wickets has set up a thrilling first Ashes Test final day in Birmingham. (AP PHOTO)

Australia's thrilling first Test against England has the potential to set the scene for one of the best cricket series of this century, and on par with the 2005 Ashes.

In a sport where pre-match hype rarely meets reality, the Birmingham Test has exceeded expectations for an already highly-anticipated series.

Even before day five, Edgbaston 2023 looks likely to go down as an instant classic alongside the likes of the 2005 Test there and 2019 at Headingley.

Over the first four days neither side properly claimed the ascendancy for more than an hour, as demonstrated by the seven-run gap on first innings.

It's evident too in the fact Australia start day five at 3-107 chasing 281, after a Stuart Broad spell put the match on level pegging again after the visitors threatened to run away with it.

Most notable has been the clash of styles.

England have delivered on their plan to take their high-tempo 'Bazball' approach into the Ashes, hellbent on a high-risk strategy.

Australia have taken more steps to counteract that than most of England's rivals in the past year, during a time where Brendon McCullum's men have won 11 of 13 games.

Pat Cummins' decision to push men back to the boundary from the opening over on day one was criticised by former players, but worked to contain the hosts.

Australia's bowlers have also prepared for the new-age England approach, with Nathan Lyon asking reserve batsmen to slog him in the nets to plan his response.

And much like Lyon, who took eight wickets for the match, both sides will walk away from Edgbaston confident their approach is the right one.

It's a key reason why this series has the potential to be one of the 21st century's best, with neither team likely to change their style.

"It’s just a different challenge," Lyon said on Monday.

"It’s about bowling my best ball and trying to get them to defend as much as I can and understanding they don’t want to defend.

"And that's OK. They are playing a positive brand of cricket and I’m bloody proud to be a part of it to be honest. It’s bloody enjoyable."

The 2005 Ashes is generally regarded as the gold standard in series, after three Tests went down to the wire and the last was still in the air starting day five.

Australia's 2001 tour of India is another classic, as was India's effort to win in Australia in 2020-21, South Africa's triumph down under in 2008-09 and India and Pakistan's rare bilateral series in 2004.

But the 2023 Ashes could well join them.

"It’s great the series are being related, because 2005 inspired our group to want to play and win Ashes series," Broad said.

"If the series can be half as good as that one I think we’ll be inspiring the nation."

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