Britain's newspapers reveled in England's dramatic victory in the Ashes opener, lavishing praise on matchwinner James Anderson, whose four-wicket haul on Sunday brought his total for the match to 10.

But they also warned that the Australians would not be the whipping boys many predicted before the series.

Aussie skipper Michael Clarke still had "plenty of hope" for the rest of the summer, they said.

Monday's Daily Telegraph and Guardian both carried a photograph of England players celebrating the winning moment on the front page.

"Howzat for starters?" was the Guardian's headline.

The back-page headline of the Daily Mail read "We've nicked it", a reference to defiant Australian batsman Brad Haddin's edge which finally sealed victory.

Popular tabloid The Sun carried an editorial supporting the technology which detected Haddin's nick.

"Wow ... what a start to this year's Ashes series," it said.

"A game and a rivalry built on the best kind of traditions. But entirely modern, making use of some of the most up-to-date systems in sport."

The Telegraph's Simon Hughes celebrated England's swing king Anderson.

"Michael Holding, the West Indies fast bowler ... has a good yardstick for judging bowlers," he wrote.

"Only when one has taken at least four wickets per Test over a long period of time, can they be considered 'great'.

"With his 10 wickets, Jimmy Anderson nudged closer to that milestone. He is on the verge of greatness," wrote Hughes.

The Times' Simon Barnes was even more enthusiastic, calling Anderson's four-wicket burst on Sunday a "stupendous effort".

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 07/16/2013 page22)