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The home side's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a clinical Australian side as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable victory in the first match of the Ashes.

The England coach's side had spoken effusively about their drive going into the first Ashes for 22 years, and they were definitely full of effort at the famous stadium. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who displayed more composure in front of a historic crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.

Outstanding Display from Reece Walsh

Guided by an exceptional display in attack and defence from club star Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a series victory since the 1970s.

England will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to accomplish that goal. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were unable to cross for any tries. That was in large measure thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful turnovers.

Key Moments of the Match

The first came as Herbie Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the opening try, then the fullback denied Mikey Lewis as half-time neared. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Walsh himself finished a wonderful play.

Cleary converted before kicking a two-pointer on the stroke of the interval to establish a eight-point lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Angus Crichton soon after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were decisively settled with 15 minutes to go. Munster's half-break was backed up by Crichton, who broke through Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another scintillating move, exploiting a weary and visibly shot English defensive line for his second try.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least prevented the home side being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for the coach to address going into what is now a must-win match next Saturday.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Substitutes: Bench players.
• Tries: Clark.
• Goal: Lewis.

• Visitors: Starting lineup.
• Interchange: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Goals: Nathan Cleary (five).