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England just in front after a shaky start on day one

Australia have a great pace attack - but they didn't stand up against India. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Pro
8th July, 2015
10

England have their noses in front at the end of the first day in Cardiff, putting on 343 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

The home side won the toss and elected to bat, but they stumbled early, losing Adam Lyth in the second over after an outside edge from Josh Hazlewood carried to Dave Warner in the slips.

FIRST ASHES TEST – FULL SCOREBOARD

The seaming ball continued to trouble the English batsmen, making it hard for number three Gary Ballance and Alastair Cook to get bat on ball.

Nathan Lyon was brought on just after drinks, and quickly made an impact, with Cook edging the ball into Haddin’s gloves in the 14th over.

At this stage England were in trouble, being down two wickets for only 42 runs on the board, so all eyes were on Ian Bell to see if he could steady the ship.

Unfortunately for England, Bell was hot on Cook’s heels, only scoring one run before his footwork failed him, getting out lbw to Mitch Starc.

It was Joe Root, after being dropped on nought by Haddin, who steadied the ship, and with the help of Ballance they managed to ride out the storm until lunch, leaving the field at 3/88.

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The English batsmen were looking for runs after lunch, and some lacklustre bowling let Root and Ballance both get to 50, as well as reach their 100-run partnership, leaving the field for tea in a much better position, 3/190.

The tea break proved fortunate for Australia, who finally got a breakthrough from Hazlewood, catching Ballance lbw on the third ball after tea, out for 61.

Ben Stokes was the next in, and he quickly took up where Ballance left off, before Joe Root edged the ball to Watson at first slip, falling for 134 from 166 balls.

The chatter from Stokes had picked up as he moved further towards his 50, but he was silenced a few balls later as a great ball from Starc clattered into the stumps, sending Stokes back to the sheds on 52.

With Root and Stokes out, it was left to keeper Jos Buttler and Ashes debutant Moeen Ali to wrap up the day’s play, and they progressed at a good rate to their 50-run partnership, before Buttler holed out Johnson at midwicket, falling for 27 in the 86th over.

Poor ball control and a few unlucky chances cost Australia on day one, Hazlewood being the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/70 from his 22 overs.

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