Australia wrap up first test

Australia polished off England's lower order to wrap up a 277-run victory in the first Ashes test yesterday and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

England lost their last five wickets for just 77 runs to be all out for 370 half-an-hour before lunch on the fifth day after resuming on 293 for five chasing an unlikely 648 to win.

It was a crushing victory for Australia and the perfect start to their attempt to win back the Ashes they lost last year in England for the first time since 1989.

"It's a really pleasing start for us but it was same in the last series, we won the first game and then things went wrong so we won't be getting carried away," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.

Ponting paid tribute to the performances of experienced seam bowler Glenn McGrath and opening batsman Justin Langer.

"Glenn did a fantastic job, his bowling in the first innings was superb. Justin Langer the same, he got the job done for us."

England's slim hopes of batting through the final day to salvage a draw effectively ended on the fourth ball of the morning when Kevin Pietersen departed without adding to his overnight score of 92.

Pietersen had shared a 153-run stand with Paul Collingwood to stall Australia's march to victory but lost his partner for 96 late on Sunday.

Wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (33) and Ashley Giles (23) provided some resistance but the end came swiftly once they were out.

Ponting was named man of the match after making 196 in his team's first-innings total of 602 for nine declared and 60 not out in the second innings.

The second test starts in Adelaide on Friday.