It was first blood to Australia in the battle for the Ashes this summer, but England have been warned that the best is yet to come from the tourists.
In what proved a captivating five days at Edgbaston, a contest that swung back and forth was eventually settled in the final session by a ninth wicket partnership of 55 from Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. Needing to win the series outright to regain the urn, it leaves Ben Stokes and co in a precarious position heading into the second Test at Lord's on Wednesday.
And since the defeat, debate has raged over the home side's chaotic Bazball style, which saw Stokes surprisingly declare on the opening day while a number of key batsmen appeared to get themselves out playing high percentage shots. But now Marnus Labuschagne has fired a shot at the hosts ahead of the clash at the 'home of cricket', claiming the Aussies prevailed despite being below par.
"We want to be better than that," he said, via the BBC. "I think it's exciting, it's entertaining, it's good to watch but, at the end of the day, I would say we played pretty under par to the standard that our team is at."
The 29-year-old himself had an underwhelming week, nicking off first ball to Stuart Broad and making just 13 second time around. Indeed, he's now duly lost his position as the no 1 Test batsman in the rankings to rival Joe Root.
"From a batting point, Uz [Usman Khawaja] was outstanding, Alex Carey was very good as well but most of the other batters, we want to be better. Then from a bowling perspective, you come in with all your plans of how you're going to do it. But until you're out there and you experience it, it's very hard to say, 'OK, we're going to do this.'
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"The thought was: 'How are they going to do it to our bowlers?' They showed they can do it - but with a wicket that might have a little more in it, what is it going to look like? We walk away from the first Test 1-0 up and that's a positive sign for us because I don't think we played at our best."
Australia's record at Lord's is a formidable one, with the tourists having lost just twice at the venue in an Ashes series in 89 years. The last clash between the two sides there in 2019 ended in a draw, and is remembered for the sliding doors moment that revitalised Labuschagne's career.
The Glamorgan batsman became the first concussion substitute in Test cricket as he replaced Steve Smith on the final day. He would go on to make 59, ensuring a draw for his team, and in the process propelling himself into a regular starting spot under then coach Justin Langer.
