BIRMINGHAM, England: Pat Cummins threw off his helmet, tossed away his bat and wheeled away in celebration after playing a captain’s innings to win an Ashes classic for Australia on Tuesday.

England’s “Bazball” cricket revolution got a lesson from Down Under in an opening Test of the series that went down to the wire on the final day.

Chasing 281 at a raucous Edgbaston, the Australians reached the target inside the final hour for a two-wicket win after Usman Khawaja hit a patient 65 and Cummins finished the job with an unbeaten 44 containing two sixes and four fours.

“Both teams spoke a lot about playing your own style,” Cummins said about triumphing over England’s aggressive approach under Ben Stokes. “And that’s the beauty of this series. Two contrasting styles, playing to our strengths and that made for great entertainment.”

Cummins shared a match-winning ninth-wicket partnership of 55 with Nathan Lyon (16 not out), hitting the winning boundary against Ollie Robinson — Harry Brook failed to stop the ball at the rope — as Australia finished on 282-8. It disappointed the majority of a loud crowd that sensed another memorable victory at the Birmingham ground after England’s two-run win in the second Ashes Test in 2005.

“We are, of course, absolutely devastated,” Stokes said. “The lads are in pieces up there. But if that’s not attracting people to the game we love then I don’t know what will.”

Jubilant and possibly surprised Australian fans at the stadium chanted “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” after their team’s remarkable win.

Khawaja, who hit his first Test century in England in the first innings, faced 197 deliveries as he anchored most of Australia’s successful run chase on a still-docile pitch before being dismissed by Stokes. Khawaja was taking the game away from England with Australia at 209-6, but Stokes’ fiery delivery was hit onto his stumps by the batter.

Khawaja was named the player of the match and said “it was an unbelievable game.”

“I watched Edgbaston 2005 on TV as a kid, I stayed up late,” Khawaja said. “I was there when Stokesy played that unbelievable innings at Headingley in the last Ashes (in England in 2019) but this has definitely got to be one of my favorite test matches I’ve ever played in.”

Eight wickets down, Australia were still chasing the win — with very good reason as it turned out — and Cummins smashed Joe Root, who was bowling spin while Moeen Ali was nursing a hurt spinning finger, for two sixes in the 83rd over.

England had delayed taking the new ball at 227-7 and it worked perfectly as Root claimed Alex Carey (20) to make the score 227-8 with Australia still needing 54 runs.

Cummins and Lyon then came to the crease and never left it, though Lyon was dropped by a flying Stokes at backward square leg in what could have been another twist.

England must win the five-match series to retake the urn from Australia. The tourists take the bragging rights into the second Test at Lord’s but both teams achieved their aim of making the series opener a showpiece for the longer format of cricket as it fights to keep players and TV viewers from focusing on franchise cricket.

The morning session was lost to rain and players took an early lunch before Australia resumed batting on 107-3, still needing 174 more runs.

They were contained early on by Jimmy Anderson and Broad, who had claimed the wickets of top-ranked Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith late on Friday to help set up a final-day thriller.

Despite losing in “Bazball” style, attack-minded England has shown almost anything can now happen in test cricket under Stokes’ captaincy.

His early declaration — on the first day, no less — with England at 393-8 drew grudging admiration from Australian fans. Bringing on part-timer Brook early on the second day to bowl at Smith drew gasps and left Australia batters not knowing what to expect next. Brook had previously remarked his gentle medium-pace was only employed “if the other boys are knackered.”

As well as the batting heroics, Lyon moved closer to joining the exclusive 500-wicket club in Tests after finishing with match figures of 8-229 on the fourth day when England finished its second innings 273 all out. Root reverse-ramped his way to 46 after his 118 not out in the first innings.

Lyon, who has taken 495 wickets, expressed genuine sympathy for England’s spinning spearhead Ali, who came out of Test retirement but struggled with a blistered spinning finger after bowling 33 overs for 2-147 in Australia’s first innings of 386.

Ali bowled again in the second innings, taking 1-57 from 14 overs, but was badly missed in the final hours.

BIRMINGHAM, England: Opener Usman Khawaja raced away in delight and threw his bat high in the air after scoring his first Test century in England as Australia made 311-5 on day two of the Ashes at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Australia’s deficit was down to 82 runs after Khawaja revived Australia’s fortunes with an unbeaten 126. He had excellent support in consecutive half-century partnerships with Travis Head (50), Cameron Green (38) and Alex Carey (52 not out).

One more strong session from Khawaja and Carey on Sunday, when showers are expected, will give Australia a clear advantage for the first time in the match, while a quick wicket for England would expose a long tail.

The Australians will have enjoyed the day more than England, which rued three big missed chances. Jonny Bairstow missed a stumping when he fumbled the second delivery to Green by Moeen Ali. Bairstow then dropped a catch after Carey edged Joe Root. Moments later, Khawaja was bowled on 112 by Stuart Broad but was called back because of a no-ball.

“It was a great ball. I felt like I had slid,” Broad said of the no-ball. “I probably bowled more no-balls than I did in my career. I’ve not bowled as many as that (six) in a day.”

Khawaja’s 15th Test hundred helped to turn things round. He anchored the innings with style and occasional aggression, hitting 14 fours and two sixes. He celebrated extravagantly after raising his 100 off 199 balls.

“He’s given us the dab, the shuffle, now the bat throw,” Head said. “It’s a huge weight off his shoulders. The first thing people talk about is hundreds overseas. Once he got off the mark, it was his day.”

The 36-year-old Khawaja said he was extra motivated by comments from the crowd.

“I genuinely do not read the media but when I’m getting sprayed (taunted) by the crowd as I’m walking out there today and as I’m going to nets being told that I can’t score runs in England ... I guess it was just a bit more emotional than normal,” he said.

“(The celebration) was a combination of having three Ashes tours in England and being dropped in two of them. Not that I have a point to prove, but it’s nice to go out there and score runs for Australia and just to show everyone that the last 10 years hasn’t been a fluke.”

Coming out of lunch on 78-3, Australia dug in. Khawaja and Travis Head started it by pairing up for 81 runs.

Khawaja and Head, the third-ranked Test batter, sprayed the ball above, between and around England’s fielders to give the hosts a dose of their own ‘Bazball’ medicine. Head plundered Moeen Ali in particular, though the England spinner had the last say by ending the partnership.

Khawaja and Head took Australia to 148, increasing the run rate by around a run an over until Head advanced once too often against Ali to send the ball to Zak Crawley at midwicket.

Playing on his home ground, Ali finished the day with figures of 2-124 from 29 overs — including being hit for six five times, twice by Khawaja. But he went into the match knowing England captain Ben Stokes was happy to back a bowler always on the attack even if he’s expensive.

Between Khawaja, Head and Green, Australia made 110-1 in the middle session.

Green should have gone soon after tea but Bairstow fluffed the stumping chance and Green made 38 in a stand of 72 with Khawaja before Ali got him with a delivery that spun back sharply.

Thanks to the England let-offs, Khawaja got his century, Carey his sixth half-century and Australia compiled 123-1 in the last session, including 14 overs of the new ball.

Australia raised their run rate to 3.3 an over. That’s not ‘Bazball,’ but Australia found it a happy compromise.

“We had to stay calm,” Head said.

The morning was not good for Australia in overcast, bowler-friendly conditions.

David Warner dragged on, giving his wicket to Broad for the 15th time. Labuschagne went next ball for a golden duck and Steve Smith denied Broad a hat trick.

“He shocked me a little with how much he moved,” Broad said of Smith. “I was disappointed not to get my third test hat trick.”

England started with three maiden overs, two bowled by Broad and one by James Anderson. The slow start to the second day may have contributed to Warner’s impatience.

The breeze died down, the sun came out and Smith — who scored 144 and 142 at Edgbaston in the 2019 Ashes series — started to look settled.

After his declaration on day one, Stokes surprised again when he gave part-time bowler Harry Brook one over of tight but unthreatening medium pace. Stokes also answered a big unknown coming into the Test — would he bowl? — shortly before lunch.

Stokes trapped Smith leg before on 16 close to lunch just when Australia seemed to be recovering. Stokes looked tired but comfortable with 1-33 in seven overs, though he and Broad shared a dozen no-balls between them.