Ben Stokes 'devastated' to lose first test of the Ashes

The Aussies triumphed by two wickets on day five to take a 1-0 lead in the series after a fiercely contested classic. 

Stokes looked to have swung the pendulum back in England's favour when he bowled out the dangerous Usman Khawaja on day five but the patient partnership of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon proved to be enough for Australia to beat England's total. 

However, England matched their opponents toe-to-toe at Edgbaston and Stokes certainly seemed to enjoy the battle, despite the disappointment of losing after an enthralling five days.

He said: "That’s why you play the game. 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.

"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."

Stokes, who spent much of his teenage years living and playing cricket in Cockermouth, made the somewhat surprising decision to declare with England on 393 and the influential Joe Root still at the crease on 118.

The 32-year-old insisted that he wouldn't change his style of cricket for the Ashes and suggested that he didn't regret that call. 

He said: "I thought that was a time to pounce.

"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."

Stokes and his teammates will look to bounce back from that defeat when they take on Australia in the second test at Lords, beginning on June 28.