England go one up in Ashes series

CARDIFF, Wales (AP):

England beat the odds and Australia by 169 runs to surprisingly win the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens yesterday, inside four days.

The Australians began the day needing an Ashes-record and improbable 412 to win with plenty of time, but were all out for 242 in 71 overs, an hour after tea.

The visitors were favoured as the Ashes holders, and riding high from a Cricket World Cup triumph, sweep of the West Indies in the Caribbean, and comfortable warm-up wins.

But they were outplayed on a slow pitch, out-led, and made to pay for errors by an England side which rebounded from a heavy defeat to New Zealand at Leeds in their last Test.

The result was emphatic and key: The winners of the first Test have won 15 of the last 17 Ashes series, including the last five.

With four players making their Ashes debut, and two more playing their first home Ashes, England captain Alastair Cook said they had to draw first blood.

"To start the series well was important," Cook said. "It shows if we do the basics well and play with attitude, we can put Australia under pressure. It's not going to work every time, but if we show off our talent, then we're a dangerous side."

brilliant bowlers

None of the Australians got a century, and they were bowled out for 308 and 242.

"All five of our bowlers were brilliant, relentless on that wicket," Cook said. "We knew there would be something in there on or around off stump if we were good enough to hit there, and we were."

Scores: England 430 (Joe Root 134, Moeen Ali 77, Gary Ballance 61, Ben Stokes 52; Mitchell Starc 5-114) and 289 (Ian Bell 60, Root 60; Nathan Lyon 4-75), defeated. Australia 308 (Chris Rogers 95; James Anderson 3-43) and 242 (Mitchell Johnson 77, David Warner 52; Stuart Broad 3-39, Moeen Ali 3-59, Joe Root 2-28) by 169 runs.