England vs. Australia, 1st Ashes Test, Day 1: Highlights, Scorecard and Report

A supreme hundred from Joe Root helped England shade the first day of the opening Ashes Test in Cardiff.

Root, England’s star man for the past couple of years, made an imperious 134 that propelled the hosts to 343 for seven at stumps.

Australia, who did fight back late in the day, will reflect on the extremely costly drop from Brad Haddin, who put down Root when he was still on nought.

After a slightly delayed start due to rain, Australia struck early with the ball to remove Adam Lyth.

Lyth, making his Ashes debut, flicked Josh Hazlewood through backward square leg for four. He attempted a similar shot from a ball that was a fraction straighter, but it drew a leading edge and flew to David Warner at gully.

"

Adam Lyth's #Ashes debut... pic.twitter.com/4DAmFoCp2m

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) July 8, 2015"

Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance rebuilt the innings with a partnership of 35, but the former fell in the over after drinks—Haddin taking a sharp catch behind the stumps off the spin of Nathan Lyon. The cut shot is one of Cook’s strengths, but he was undone by a little extra bounce from a pitch that had previously been low.

Bell came and went far too quickly for England’s liking. He looked ill at ease from the moment he stepped to the crease. He was fortunate not to pick out the man at mid-on after completely miscuing a lofted drive, and fell lbw to Mitchell Starc in the following over.

England were in trouble at 43 for three, but it could have been far worse as Haddin shelled a one-handed catch off Root’s second ball.

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DROP! Haddin puts down Root second ball! #MyAshesSummer http://t.co/iWgMdBCUgg pic.twitter.com/CL2nK0qeol

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 8, 2015"

Root has been in supreme form for quite some time, and he looked extremely comfortable after being given a life as he punished anything that was marginally off line or length.

Haddin has history with regard to dropping Root. He put him down early on at Lord’s in 2013 and the Yorkshireman made him pay with an innings of 180.

By the time tea was taken in Cardiff, Haddin’s debt to his team had grown to 93. Root and Ballance batted the entire afternoon session to take England to a position of strength at 190 for three.

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TEA: England end the session on 190/3. No wickets for Australia in the afternoon. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/9Lo7XhdSkd

— Sportlobster (@sportlobster) July 8, 2015"

Having toiled away for the best part of three hours, Australia broke through again shortly after tea. A full, swinging ball from Hazlewood beat Ballance’s drive and trapped him lbw.

Root played a host of glorious cover drives through the day, and it was appropriate that it was such a stroke that brought up his century.

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He drives through the covers & that's @joeroot05's 2nd #Ashes 100! Top knock Rooty!! pic.twitter.com/qOw4EL3XDK

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 8, 2015"

Ben Stokes joined Root at the crease and played his customary blend of attacking cricket.

With Stokes refusing to take a backward step, England scored at a good pace and threatened to take the game away from Australia.

However, Starc returned to prise Root out late in the evening session. Starc had been disappointing for much of the day, but he caught the edge of Root’s bat and Shane Watson took an excellent low catch at first slip.

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#Ashes | WICKET Root | http://t.co/7h1mQkUd53 The leading striker is out! Starc bowls @joeroot05 out for 134. 280-5 pic.twitter.com/OJoncUYeXZ

— fanatix (@therealfanatix) July 8, 2015"

The wicket of Root appeared to imbibe Starc with confidence as he bowled an excellent spell at Stokes. He eventually got his man with a superb ball that pitched and left the batsman and crashed into off stump.

Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Moeen Ali and Jos Butler countered effectively to take England past 300. They looked well set, but the latter scooped a drive off Hazlewood to Mitchell Johnson at mid-on. It was a tame dismissal after batting so well.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Balls
A Lyth	c Warner b Hazlewood	6	10
AN Cook	c †Haddin b Lyon	20	40
GS Ballance	lbw b Hazlewood	61	149
IR Bell	lbw b Starc	1	7
JE Root	c Watson b Starc	134	166
BA Stokes	b Starc	52	78
JC Buttler†	c Johnson b Hazlewood	27	34
MM Ali	Not Out	26	38
SCJ Broad	Not Out	0	6
Extras	(b 13, lb 2, nb 1)	16
Total	(7 wickets; 87 overs)	343
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
MA Starc	19	4	84	3
JR Hazlewood	22	7	70	3
MG Johnson	20	2	87	0
NM Lyon	17	4	54	1
SR Watson	8	0	24	0
DA Warner	2	0	9	0

There were examples of indifferent bounce as the day wore on, and with the pitch unlikely to get any better, England will look to press on with the bat on Thursday morning and put Australia under pressure.