The Ashes; First Test, Cardiff, July 8-12

[The Waugh Twins]

Man of the match catches the last out.

Well done England.

[hopeforthebest]

Tremendous win for England, comprehensive in every department.

[Aidan11]

Bayliss starts with a win.

[captaincolly]

Couldn't have hoped for a more comfortable win.

[alfie]

Fitting that Root takes the catch that wins the match.

Wasn't it , though ? He had nearly the perfect match - except for dropping Rogers this morning

Was a fine team effort though : you could fairly say all eleven had a decent part in this win.

Now ; what was all the stuff about a rotten pitch for Tests on which England could never hope to take 20 wickets ? Four an over throughout , forty wickets in four days...what more could anyone want ?

Well perhaps the local club would have liked gate receipts for day five...

[Aidan11]

Root confirmed as MoM.

[Making_Splinters]

Fitting that Root takes the catch that wins the match.

Wasn't it , though ? He had nearly the perfect match - except for dropping Rogers this morning

Was a fine team effort though : you could fairly say all eleven had a decent part in this win.

Now ; what was all the stuff about a rotten pitch for Tests on which England could never hope to take 20 wickets ? Four an over throughout , forty wickets in four days...what more could anyone want ?

Well perhaps the local club would have liked gate receipts for day five...

Aside from the Captain.

[Aidan11]

Root has 10 test wickets now.

[Aidan11]

4 days rest now before Lord's on Thursday.

[captaincolly]

Fitting that Root takes the catch that wins the match.

Wasn't it , though ? He had nearly the perfect match - except for dropping Rogers this morning

Was a fine team effort though : you could fairly say all eleven had a decent part in this win.

Now ; what was all the stuff about a rotten pitch for Tests on which England could never hope to take 20 wickets ? Four an over throughout , forty wickets in four days...what more could anyone want ?

Well perhaps the local club would have liked gate receipts for day five...

Aside from the Captain.

Not many runs for Cook but I thought his captaincy and fielding were great.

[yorker_129-7]

After everything that has gone before, from the inept display in Australia to the crowd-pleasaing ODI series with New Zealand, England badly needed a win, and a win where they played well. This was exactly that. Right now, Australia have all the problems. Haddin, Johnson, Watson, Starc and others.

I still think Australia are massive favourites for the series. But...

[The Waugh Twins]

Australia had problems before the match started, but too many folks with tunnel vision just wouldn't admit it.

The big difference between the two teams started well before the toss and that's the gutsy calls made by the selectors. Hats off to Baylis and whomever else was involved.

[KipperJohn]

Fitting that Root takes the catch that wins the match.

Wasn't it , though ? He had nearly the perfect match - except for dropping Rogers this morning

Was a fine team effort though : you could fairly say all eleven had a decent part in this win.

Now ; what was all the stuff about a rotten pitch for Tests on which England could never hope to take 20 wickets ? Four an over throughout , forty wickets in four days...what more could anyone want ?

Well perhaps the local club would have liked gate receipts for day five...

Good post. Well over 1200 runs and both sides bowled out twice - great test of the players skills. Thought England's seamers bowled really well and kept the pressure on.

Broad closing in on 300 Test wickets - and he has well over 2000 runs. Anderson and Broad nearly 700 wickets between them now which is why it's great to see the likes of Wood coming through.

Thoroughly enjoyable 4 days.

[The Waugh Twins]

After everything that has gone before, from the inept display in Australia to the crowd-pleasaing ODI series with New Zealand, England badly needed a win, and a win where they played well. This was exactly that. Right now, Australia have all the problems. Haddin, Johnson, Watson, Starc and others.

I still think Australia are massive favourites for the series. But...

Johnson's not a problem but yes Haddin and Watson have been for some time, they just won't let them go.

Also as Holding said if you take away the threat of being hurt by Johnson's bowling then you take away the threat of Johnson's bowling. I doubt it will be like that at Lords.

[The Waugh Twins]

Yes I have to agree with you there Mark.