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The home side's attacking frailties were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australia as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward victory in the opening Test of the Ashes.

The England coach's team had spoken effusively about their drive going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were definitely full of effort at the famous stadium. However, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who showed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Performance from Walsh

Led by an outstanding display in attack and defence from club star Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing victors in the opening Test of the three-match series, meaning England must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend to keep alive their hopes of a first Ashes win since 1970.

England will have to be much better with the possession if they are to accomplish that goal. On several instances in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two superb interceptions.

Key Moments of the Match

The initial came as Herbie Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh stopped Mikey Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself finished a excellent move.

Cleary converted before adding a two-pointer on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Crichton soon after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favor of the Kangaroos. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their momentum.

Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who broke through Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Reece Walsh finished another breathtaking attack, exploiting a weary and visibly shot England defensive line for his second try.

Match Result and Looking Ahead

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

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

• Visitors: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Kicks: Cleary 5.