Hosts England defeated Australia in the first test match with Joe Root becoming the man of the match in a scintillating performance with the bat. Before the start of the series Australia were regarded as firm favorites because they had won the recently concluded world ODI championship. England was all at sea when the first test of the Ashes was played at Cardiff in the Sophia Gardens stadium. The hosts won the toss and put the Australians into field. Adam Lynth, the opener soon returned to the hut after scoring only 6 runs. Alistair cook, the captain failed to impress the selectors as he holed out to the ball from the spinner Nathan LYON. Thereafter, Joe Root and Gary Balance got together to stitch a partnership of 153 runs which propelled the hosts to safety. When everything was looking good Australia struck by removing balance of the delivery of hazel wood for 61 runs. In spite of the fall of wickets, England ended the day at 343/7 with Joe Root scoring 134 runs. The next day tail of England wagged as Moin Ali made 51 runs and England reached a total score of 430 runs in the first innings. Mitchell STARC was the most successful bowler from Australia by plucking 5 wickets.
Australia started cautiously with openes adding 52 runs on the board. David Warner was dismissed for only 17 runs and he was quickly followed by Steve Smith who scored 33 runs. Chris Rogers proved to be the savior for Australia as he knocked 95 runs apart from the partnership of Voges and Watson who scored 50 runs together. Australia were in a respectable position with 264 runs scored and 5 wickets down however all hell broke loose when its lost two quick wickets the next morning. The innings folded at 308 giving England a commanding lead of 122 runs.
In the second innings of England, Michell Starc again struck removing the openers however Ian bell and Joe root dug in to post 60 runs each on the Board. Nathan Lyon was the surprise performer as he took 5 precious English wickets. England team scored 289 runs giving a huge target of 411 to chase. It was always an uphill task and what with broad firing out swingers at the other end. Rogers departed early however Warner and Smith added 77 runs together before MOIN ALI got David LBW in front of the wicket at the score of 52. Wickets continued to fall and Australia reached 151 runs on the fourth day. The innings folded at 242 and England won the match. Joe Root was adjudged man of the match for his stupendous innings.