England vs. Australia: 1st Ashes Test Day 2 Takeaways from Cardiff

England edged Day 2 of the first Test against Australia, but the opening Ashes encounter is still delicately poised.

The tourists reached the close in Cardiff on 264 for five in reply to England’s first-innings total of 430.

Opener Chris Rogers made 95 (more on him to come), and all of Australia’s top six batsmen made it into double figures.

However, the home side kept chipping away to make sure their opponents never assumed control. The late wicket of Adam Voges, caught for 31, tipped the balance of power in England’s favour, albeit only just.

Here are the key talking points from Thursday’s action in Cardiff.

Johnson’s morning to forget

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Mitchell Johnson is a different beast when he’s bowling in England—cricket's version of Jekyll and Hyde.

In the last Ashes series in Australia during the winter of 2013/14, the left-arm paceman claimed 37 wickets as the hosts secured a 5-0 series sweep.

When he’s in England, though, Johnson just isn’t the same. A sluggish pitch didn’t help his cause in the Welsh capital, nor did Stuart Broad's being given a reprieve after initially being out caught at short leg.

It all added up to Johnson's final figures of none for 111. They are the worst of his career, according to OptaJim:

The records didn’t end there, either. BBC Sport's Test Match Special rubbed salt in the wounds for Johnson, who now has an average of 42.56 in Test cricket in England.

While the bowler toiled, the Cardiff crowd rejoiced. He was given a huge cheer after going for over 100 runs. He at least saw the funny side of things, though, doffing his cap in acknowledgement.

He also saw two potential catches elude him in the deep, much to the delight of the England supporters.

Johnson can still have an impact with the ball in England's second innings. Before then, however, Australia needs him to weigh in with a few runs with the bat.

Positive spin from Moeen

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Prior to the Test, England’s only selection issue surrounded the identity of the slow in their final XI.

Adil Rashid had been included in the 13-man squad, the Yorkshire leg-spinner having been part of England’s one-day squad that recorded a 3-2 series victory over New Zealand in June.

However, the management team opted to keep faith in Moeen Ali, a slow-bowling all-rounder who was the star turn (pun intended) during the home Tests against India last year.

He had been below par in the two Tests against the Black Caps at the start of the summer, picking up five wickets in two matches at an average of 50.

But Moeen made telling contributions with both bat and ball on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test.

The 28-year-old started out in the morning by hitting 77 from 88 deliveries, all vital runs for England that helped carry their total to 400 and beyond.

Yet it was his bowling that was going to come under the most scrutiny. Australia came after him from the outset, with Steven Smith using his feet to hit three fours in Moeen's fourth over. 

The bowler, though, had the last laugh, getting Smith caught at short mid-wicket by Alastair Cook.

Michael Clarke also perished, caught and bowled, as Moeen dismissed Australia’s top two players of spin. He should still have a big part to play in the rest of the match, but he's already made a positive impact.

Rogers in the runs

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Chris Rogers is on his farewell tour for Australia.

The opening batsman already confirmed prior to the series that he planned to retire at the end of the Ashes. He said of the decision, per the official website of Cricket Australia: “I think to go out in the Ashes and in England where I’ve played a lot of cricket is pretty fitting.”

He started the last leg of his international career in fine fashion, making 95 on his return to the team.

Having missed out on the two-Test series in the Caribbean after being hit on the head in the nets, the left-hander looked right at home in English conditions.

That should hardly come as a surprise—Rogers has been a familiar face on the country scene for many years, playing for four different teams during his career.

The 37-year-old registered two impressive records during his innings in Cardiff:

Driving with authority while always looking solid in defence, Rogers looked destined to reach three figures.

However, Mark Wood put an end to his hopes of a century. The Durham paceman had the batsman caught behind by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler just five runs shy of the landmark. 

Rogers told Sky Sports after the close of play: “I’m old, I can feel it. Days in the field are hard work and even just being in this environment is fairly draining.”

It certainly wasn't draining watching him bat against England in the series opener. Australia will be hoping he has plenty more big scores in him before retirement.

Cook crumbles

England captain Cook must have been pleased with the way his side fought hard, firstly with the bat and then later with the ball, to get themselves in a promising position at the end of Thursday's play.

He was probably less pleased, however, when he took a nasty blow in the field while he stood at first slip.

Having just been on cloud nine after taking the catch to dismiss David Warner, Cook was sent crashing back down to earth with a bump—perhaps possibly more of a thud—after being struck in the, well, let’s say just in a sensitive area below the belt.

After briefly battling through the pain to carry on fielding, Cook eventually had to go off and get treatment, though what the physiotherapist can do to help him during such a difficult time is unclear.

At least his team-mates were sympathetic—Joe Root, who took over the captaincy in Cook's absence, found it hilariously funny: