Ashes 2019 | We’re not here to just win a Test, but the Ashes, asserts Tim Paine

Australia have finally won a Test match at Edgbaston, a first in 18 years. That too, by a whopping 252-run margin. After seemingly being in the ascendency for most of the first three days of the Test, the hosts capitulated on the last two days to hand their bitter rivals the win in the Ashes opener. 

However, the Aussie skipper is keen to keep the celebratory moods realistic in his camp. Paine noted two things that first it’s just one Test out of five, and secondly, England had lost their premier fast bowler to injury in the first innings. 

“It’s a great one (talking about the victory), no doubt about that. We felt behind the game for probably three days so I thought the way we stuck at it was a real credit to our boys. And then, the last two days, we played superb cricket. But, there’s still four Tests to go. We aren’t here to win the first Test at Edgbaston, we’re here to win the Ashes. We’ve been very clear on that for some time,” Paine said at the post-match press conference, reported Cricbuzz.

Anderson, who had been deemed fit, ended up bowling only four overs in the match. He then felt tightness in his right calf muscle, the same one he had torn and was recovering from since early July.

“No doubt Jimmy Anderson is one of the best bowlers in the world, if not the best, particularly over here in England. It (losing him) made it difficult for their team. It put a lot of workload into Ben Stokes, their all-rounder. Guys had to bowl more overs than what they are used to. I’d be lying if I said psychological if it didn’t make a difference to our team, and obviously physically to theirs as well,” he said, with a sly smile.

Paine, however, did not downplay the marker they have put down with this win. He called out the outstanding performances from Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon, while also giving credit to David Warner, for using their experience to lead the camp. He then revealed the driving factor for the Aussies in this series.

“We’re obviously happy to win the first Test, it’s a huge step in the right direction. But, we’re certainly not satisfied with that. We’re here to do something that a lot of teams from Australia have struggled to do. We realize that if we can do it, it will be talked about for a long time. And that’s what is driving us. We have a big five weeks ahead of us,” Paine aded. 

The second Test match will begin on August 14, at Lord's. Paine said that Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are likely to return to playing XI, depending on the pitch.