Ashes 2015 1st Test : Match Report

The most watched Test series, and moreover a complete entertainment package commenced and it was time for the first of the five tests at Cardiff. The 1^st encounter between England and Australia at Cardiff resulted in favour of the home team, though the Aussies displayed great skills and class on the 22 yards. Here's a recap! 

Day 1   

England won the toss and despite the overcast conditions chose to bat first and Alastair Cook lead his boys to regain the Ashes, having been whitewashed 5-0 in Australia in 2013/14.The English failed to kick off the Ashes on a high note and were seen wobbling at 42/3 before lunch after Skipper Alastair Cook and Ian Bell departed in quick succession.

However Joe Root came to their rescue and accompanied by a gritty Gary Ballance (61), the Yorkshire duo added 153 for the 4^th wicket on a sluggish pitch and England got through the second session without further loss.Root has the priceless ability to up the tempo if he does stay in and was even successful in tormenting the Aussie hurricane Johnson. However Starc who went on to finish with figures of 19-4-84-3, removed Root in the 72^nd over.

Root made Australia pay for dropping him on zero by scoring a stunning 134 as England advanced to 343-7 at close on the opening day of the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens.

 

Day 2

All-rounder Moeen Ali’s significant 77 brought smiles on the faces in the English camp as the hosts finished their 1^st innings at 430. Australian opener Chris Rogers(95) joined a select group of players with the seventh successive Test fifty but this wasn’t sufficient enough to prevent England from edging ahead at the end of Day 2.

Shortly after lunch England dismissed Aussie opener David Warner for a mere 17. In came Steve Smith who got after Moeen Ali off –breaks with three fours in four balls and also smashed a classic unorthodox drive. Unorthodox is not appropriate, but it is his own style.

Ali succeeded in trapping Smith for 33 after the later got himself in a terrible position to avoid being stumped. Captain Clarke departed for 38 and soon Watson(29) and Lyon(6) followed him back to the Pavilion.

The visitors closed on the second day’s play at 264/5 in reply to England’s 430, which was a deficit of 166 runs, Day 2 ended with the hosts dominating their guests.

Day 3

The Australian tail failed miserably and it was time again for the English to face the Aussies.England started the second session with 22 for the loss 1 wicket, though they had a 143 run lead, the Australian attack was looking to threaten.

Variable bounce was making things tough for the batsmen,Ian Bell(60) and Joe Root(60) steadied the English ship before being sent to the dressing room.

Newbie Mark Wood’s cameo extended England’s lead past 400, rest of the line up failed to consolidate the innings and the home team was bowled out for 289.

Australia were set a target of 412 to win the first Ashes test after they kept England under their thumb in the 2^nd innings.

Day 4 

David Warner was sent packing by Ali for 52 and his teammate Rogers departed without causing any havoc. The Australian side collapsed soon after lunch.Mitchell Johnson(77) batted sensibly, and made the English bowlers toil hard for a win. England sealed a win after sending back Josh Hazlewood.

Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali had were the architects behind this win by picking up 3 wickets each and reducing the Aussies to 242 and thus packing up the 1^st Test with a 169 run haul.

Australia will look to bounce back in the 2nd Test at the historic Lord's in London, while the English would look to continue their winning run.

All images from CricBuzz.