"This was not just an homage to the epic contest on the same ground 18 years ago, but the perfect opening to the most anticipated Ashes series in a generation..." writes BBC chief cricket writer Stephan Shemilt.

You can every word of his match report from a stonewall classic here...

If you missed any of the action from today we can also point you in the right direction.

The highlights from the match can be found on Today At The Test on BBC iPlayer right now

Similarly, the TMS Podcast wrapping everything up will be available to download very shortly.

You won't have to wait long for your next Ashes fix, either. The Women's Ashes Test starts on Thursday and we will have ball-by-ball coverage on the BBC Sport website, with in-play clips , and live commentary from the TMS team via BBC Sounds.

See you then.

England captain Ben Stokes, speaking on Today at the Test: "What a game. Yet another one that we've been a part of.

"It's obviously devastating to be on the losing end of that, going down to the wire with the emotions of that whole day... to get to the end there, eight down with 50 to win you're thinking we're just one wicket away but you can never count Australia out.

"Pat [Cummins] has dug in there and got them over the line. But in terms of the output of the game and what people have witnessed, that's what we're trying to achieve as a team.

"Everyone would have been on the edge of their seat here and everyone at home will have been glued to their TV. That's what we want to be remembered as as a team.

"That's the thing about not being a results driven team."

On how much it hurts: "Obviously, you always want to beat the Aussies.

"But in terms of what we put into this week and took this game on from ball one - literally with Zak [Crawley] - and the way we managed to stick to our ethos and not get side-tracked by the whole arena of the Ashes... it would have been easy to play it a bit safer but we didn't do that, not one individual.

"That's something I'm very proud of."

On approach in next Test: "I think it is very hard to say, 'did we not go hard enough?' Scoring 390 and then being able to declare sends a message to Australia about how we want to take them on.

"Then the way in which we bowled, we managed to take 18 wickets in this Test match and I think it's the first one we've not been able to take 20.

"We've managed to stand up to Australia and being in control for most of it makes it hurt a little bit more that we've lost but there are four more games left. Did they lose the first one in 2005? I think they did.

"There are four more to go. That's what I'll be saying, 'taking the hurt from this one and use it in the next one'.'"

On areas for improvement: "We just have to be a little bit sharper. There were chances that might have changed the game towards us. I don't want to say they stopped us winning because you don't know how the game would change if we did take those chances.

"You're not going to get too many chances on a wicket like that and if we did take those chances, the game could have looked different. Australia have won, we've lost and that's the end of it."

On Moeen Ali's finger injury: "We've got a very long break. For Mo to come back in after such a long break, just from Test cricket but first-class cricket and operate the way he did. He did tell me it was hurting and I said, 'if it gets to the point that you can't bowl then please tell me' but he was able to bowl that last over.

"You could see what it meant to him gong out to play for England again, a huge smile on his face. I selected him for his match-winning moments, he had a few of them with the ball and nearly got us over the line. we'll see."

On the crowd: "It's amazing playing here. Having the Hollies behind us all week and hearing the back and forth with the Australian guys, it's something that you can't not hear. I'll just encourage England fans to do more of the same."

Bold words from Ben Stokes at the presentation. Would you expect anything less?

There's four more Test matches in this Ashes series, don't forget.

If they are anything like this we'll be in for some summer.

England captain Ben Stokes, speaking at the post-match presentation: "I am very proud to take it to the end of day five. It was a rollercoaster with ups and down and a game we will never forget. We just want to be part of some great moments. Hopefully we can attract people to the Ashes, in England and Australia, for the remaining four games.

"A loss is a loss. We stuck to our guns on how we would operate and carried on from the last series we played. We are going to continue keep coming at Australia and if we end up on the wrong result but they go down to the wire like this I don't mind.

"Who knows how it could have worked out with the declaration. Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson might have just got out anyway. I thought Mo came back into his first Test match and put himself through the pain barrier superbly.

"Joe with the bat got us on a roll and gave us momentum. 280 runs is a lot so you have to give credit to Australia. It's going to be a great series. The efforts and energies of the seamers to put big shifts in."

Image source, Getty Images

Australia captain Pat Cummins: "Both teams spoke a lot about playing your own style. And that's the beauty of this series. Two contrasting styles, playing to our strengths and that made for great entertainment."

On Usman Khawaja: "He showed incredible composure in both innings. He didn't get caught up in anything. He has been a class player the last few years and I'm really happy for him.

"The plan was everyone to bat at their own pace Having had a good first innings he had a good feel for the wicket but everyone chipped in."

On Nathan Lyon: "He's huge. You just put him down one end and and forget about him. He takes key wickets. He is an absolute superstar. He just calmly goes about his work. A captain's dream."

On whether this makes up for the disappointment of Headingley 2019: "No idea what your're talking about mate!"

Player of the match, Australia batter Usman Khawaja: "When you're playing and you're in, you're fine but when you're watching up there - I can only imagine how the fans felt.

"That was an unbelievable game. I watched Edgbaston 2005 on TV as a kid, I stayed up late.

"I was there was Stokesy played that unbelievable innings at Headingley in the last Ashes but this has definitely got to be one of my favourite Test matches I've ever played in.

On the dressing room during last partnership: "I couldn't really watch it with the guys, there was too much nervous energy out the front so I watched it in the changing room with delayed vision.

"But I could hear everything that was going on. Marnus came in and said, 'you cannot move!' So I had to stay there. Only habits die hard."

England captain Ben Stokes to BBC Test Match Special: "Unbelievable. That’s why you play it. I think in terms of everything we have spoken about constantly for a long period of time. It came down to the end of today. Everyone was on the edge of their seat.

"We are not a results-driven team. We are, of course, absolutely devastated. 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.

“You have never won a game until you have won it. It was still massively in the balance. We had to come up with different ideas, keep changing things. And it just comes down to small margins in the end. A few chances go our way, there were a few drops as well. But we have four matches to go.”

On the first innings declaration: “I thought that was a time to pounce. I am not going to change the way I have gone about my cricket because it is the Ashes. Who knows we could have got an extra 40 runs or lost two wickets in two balls. I am not a captain who gets by on what ifs.

“We were in control of most of the game and managed to produce a result. Obviously we wanted to be on top. We are devastated but that’s sport. It is great and an emotional rollercoaster.”

Australia opener Usman Khawaja has been named player of the match. He seems particularly jolly, as you would imagine, during the post-match presentation.

England bowler James Anderson to BBC Test Match Special: "We are gutted not to get over the line but over the next few days when we look back at what we have done we can be really proud. We have tried to dominate from ball one. The declaration was really positive. We fought and fought on a really placid pitch. But credit to Australia they were just to good for us.

"There's areas we can improve. There always is and in tight games those chances do get put in the spotlight. But we will let it soak in, get over the disappointment and look at the positives.

"We have played some great cricket. We have had five sold out days and everyone has gone home happy. Both sets of fans can go home saying they have been to one of the great Test matches."

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!" chant the Australian fans, all decked out in their green shirts and yellow caps.

Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood to BBC Test Match Special: "It was a long hour. I was just sitting in the back of the room watching.

"When Carey got out we probably thought that was it but Patty (Pat Cummins) is a class batter. An outstanding effort.

"It was an amazing game of cricket. It is still a long series but it is a big swing. The first game is always important."

Roshan: What. A. Test. Match. A huge win for Australia.

James Charman: Test. Match. Cricket. No, it wasn't the result I wanted, but this is why I love this sport. No format matches the emotion of a Test match. None.

Phil: Well played Australia. Great game. Feel England didn't have enough bowlers and too many dropped catches cost us. Only one game though. Have to pick Wood and look at the spinner again.

Agony for England, ecstasy for the Aussies.

It came down to fine margins in the end.

Paul Jenkins: Well played Australia. Great game and a really gritty batting display to see it out. What a game. Bring on the next four Tests!!

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

There's an Aussie fan standing on his feet and screaming in celebration below the press box. I can see a spectator in an England shirt shaking an Australia fan's hand.

After all that...Ben Stokes has still found time to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans in the stands.

Kevin Ticehurst: Fair play to Cummins, a true captain knock!

James Anderson is speaking to Jonathan Agnew and we'll have the thoughts of England's all-time leading wicket taker, and all the rest of the reaction, shortly.