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Highlights of Day 1 of the 1st Test at Cardiff

Link to 1st Test Scorecard

England have won the toss and have elected to bat first in the 1st Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Morning Session – England 1st Innings

Over 1.2: Three runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to A Cook, short of length delivery, whips it away through mid wicket and would not get a boundary because of a heavy outfield.

Over 2.6: Boundary! M Johnson to A Strauss, half volley, strays onto the pads again and this time its Strauss who plays the flick shot to mid wicket for a boundary.

Over 6.1: No runs. P Siddle to A Strauss, short of length delivery, goes for a forceful pull which is dragged to squareleg. Siddle has replaced Johnson.

Over 7.6: He is Caught! Ben Hilfenhaus to A Cook, short and rising delivery, pushes at that away from his body and the ball flies wide of square gully where Hussey dives full length to his right to clinch the catch.

Over 10.5: Boundary! P Siddle to R Bopara, short and rising delivery, gets an inside edge that misses the stumps and beats the keeper for a boundary to fine leg.

Over 12.4: No ball + Two runs. P Siddle to A Strauss, short of length delivery, clips it across wide of fine leg for a couple.

Over 12.4: Boundary! P Siddle to A Strauss, half volley, thats an attempted yorker down the legside and Strauss glances that strongly to fine leg for a boundary.

Over 14.4: Boundary! P Siddle to A Strauss, short of length delivery, picks the length early and plays a flashy pull flat through squareleg for a boundary.

Over 14.6: Single. P Siddle to A Strauss, pitched up delivery, thats a bad ball onto the pads and Strauss flicks that straight to fine leg. Drinks on the field. England 39/1 in 15.0 Ovs (Strauss 23* Bopara 4*).

Over 15.1: No runs. M Johnson to A Strauss, short and wide, let’s that go to the keeper outside the off stump. Johnson has replaced Hilfenhaus.

Over 15.2: Boundary! M Johnson to A Strauss, short and wide, cuts it fiercely through point for a boundary.

Over 16.6: Boundary! P Siddle to R Bopara, pitched up delivery, yes the ball seems to have started to reverse and this is a lovely on drive from Bopara wide of mid on for a boundary.

Over 18.1: Boundary! P Siddle to R Bopara, pitched up delivery, thats an extremely loose drive away from his body and the ball flies over backward point for a streaky boundary.

Over 18.5: Boundary! P Siddle to R Bopara, good length delivery, bends forward and plays a flashy drive uppishly behind point for a boundary.

Over 19.5: Three runs. M Johnson to R Bopara, pitched up delivery, that seems to be a slower one and Bopara is terribly early in his off drive which luckily spoons over Hilfenhaus at mid off.

Over 19.6: He is Caught! M Johnson to A Strauss, bangs it short, goes for a pull shot and is done in for pace here, the ball takes the glove and lobs up to first slip.

Over 20.5: Four Byes! P Siddle to R Bopara, bangs it short, thats sprayed a mile down the legside and Haddin cannot do anything about that.

Over 20.6: Boundary! P Siddle to R Bopara, bangs it short, picks the length in a flash and pulls it with utmost disdain through wide mid wicket for a boundary.

Over 21.1: No runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to K Pietersen, good length delivery, goes back and is hit on the pad and survives a loud lbw shout, that hit him a touch high. Hilfenhaus has replaced Johnson.

Over 22.4: Boundary! M Johnson to R Bopara, half volley, puts away that wide juicy one through extra covers for a boundary.

Over 22.5: Three runs. M Johnson to R Bopara, half volley, this time opens the face of the blade to get his drive through covers and picks up three runs.

Over 24.4: He is Caught! M Johnson to R Bopara, pitched up delivery, thats a magical slower one and Bopara is a long way early in his drive to spoon a simple catch to North at point!

Over 26.2: Boundary! M Johnson to P Collingwood, short and rising delivery, pulls it away confidently towards squareleg for a boundary.

Over 26.6: No runs. M Johnson to P Collingwood, good length delivery, defends it off the frontfoot. That’s lunch on Day 1 at Sophia Gardens, this session has belonged to the visitors. England 97/3 in 27.0 Ovs (Pietersen 6* Collingwood 5*)

Afternoon Session – England 1st Innings

Over 27.2: Boundary! Ben Hilfenhaus to K Pietersen, pitched up delivery, strides forward and drives it through extra covers for a boundary.

Over 28.4: Beaten! P Siddle to K Pietersen, pitched up delivery, KP misses that full length yorker just outside the off stump, he didn’t play along the right line and is lucky to get away with that.

Over 29.6: Boundary! Ben Hilfenhaus to K Pietersen, half volley, thats a wide reverse swinging outswinger that is freely driven away through covers for a boundary.

Over 31.1: Two runs. Nathan Hauritz to K Pietersen, flatter trajectory delivery, straightaway goes for a predetermined paddle sweep and gets a couple to fine leg. Hauritz has replaced Hilfenhaus.

Over 31.3: Two runs. Nathan Hauritz to K Pietersen, flatter trajectory delivery, gets a dangerous top edge in his sweep which falls short of backward squareleg.

Over 32.1: Boundary! P Siddle to P Collingwood, bangs it short, that one sits up on this not so fast pitch and Collingwood pulls it from outside off to mid wicket in the air for a boundary.

Over 32.3: Three runs. P Siddle to P Collingwood, pitched up delivery, strokes it freely on the up past extra covers and picks uo three runs.

Over 33.4: Three runs. Nathan Hauritz to P Collingwood, flatter trajectory delivery, rocks back and cuts it through covers for three more runs.

Over 38.1: No runs. M Johnson to P Collingwood, good length delivery, let’s that go to the keeper outside the off stump. Johnson has replaced Siddle.

Over 41.5: Single. Nathan Hauritz to K Pietersen, flatter trajectory delivery, gets a long way across and paddles it to fine leg to bring up the 50 of this partnership.

Over 41.6: Single. Nathan Hauritz to P Collingwood, flighted delivery, stays back and pushes it to extra covers. Drinks called onto the park. England 141/3 in 42.0 Ovs (Pietersen 30* Collingwood 25*)

Over 46.1: Single. M Clarke to K Pietersen, quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and hammers it to deep extra covers. Clarke has replaced Johnson.

Over 50.2: Single. M Clarke to K Pietersen, flatter trajectory delivery, drives it to deep mid off for a quick single, that brings up 1000 runs in Ashes for KP.

Over 52.4: Four Byes! M Clarke to K Pietersen, quicker and flatter in the air, gets a long way across the stumps and misses his sweep, the ball infact misses the legstump by hardly a centimeter! Haddin failed to collect it.

Over 53.2: Boundary! Nathan Hauritz to P Collingwood, quicker and flatter in the air, goes deep in the crease and cuts it through covers for a boundary.

Over 53.6: Boundary! Nathan Hauritz to P Collingwood, flatter trajectory delivery, rocks back and cuts it powerfully infront of point for a boundary.

Over 54.1: Boundary! M Clarke to K Pietersen, full toss, steps out and drives it inside out through extra covers for a boundary.

Over 56.1: No runs. P Siddle to K Pietersen, short of length delivery, punches it to straight mid on. Siddle has replaced Clarke with about 12 mins to go for Tea.

Over 57.1: Single. Nathan Hauritz to K Pietersen, flatter trajectory delivery, brings up his 15th test match fifty with a sweep to short fine leg region.

Over 57.3: Single. Nathan Hauritz to P Collingwood, quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and dabs it to deep point to bring up the 100-run partnership.

Over 58.4: Single. P Siddle to P Collingwood, pitched up delivery, weight not on the frontfoot and pushes it to mid off and takes a risky single to bring up his 14th test fifty.

Over 58.6: No runs. P Siddle to K Pietersen, pitched up delivery, gets a thick inside edge to squareleg. Well Tea has been taken slightly early as Australia bowled 32 overs in this session. The match has tilted in England’s favour now. England 194/3 in 59.0 Ovs (Pietersen 52 Collingwood 50)

Final Session – England 1st Innings

Over 59.1: Three runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to P Collingwood, short and wide, cuts that away through covers and gets an easy three from the longest part of the ground.

Over 60.1: Two Byes. P Siddle to K Pietersen, pitched up delivery, thats a wild inswinger bowled a mile down the legside and Haddin can only get a bit of palm to that.

Over 60.3: Single. P Siddle to P Collingwood, good length delivery, goes back and pushes it to mid on for a risky run, there is a direct hit but KP is safe, that single brings up the 200.

Over 62.6: Boundary! P Siddle to P Collingwood, good length delivery, looks to drive it on the up and the result is a thick edge that flies low through wide gully for a boundary.

Over 63.6: No runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to K Pietersen, pitched up delivery, gets struck on the boot by a pacy inswinging yorker infront of middle and Doctrove is too dumb not to give that out lbw!!

Over 64.4: Four Leg Byes! P Siddle to P Collingwood, good length delivery, strays onto the pads and that deflects away off the pad to the fine leg boundary.

Over 64.5: Boundary! P Siddle to P Collingwood, short and wide, cuts that away through covers for a boundary.

Over 65.2: Three runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to K Pietersen, pitched up delivery, plays a free flowing flick shot wide of mid on and gets three runs.

Over 65.3: He is Caught! Ben Hilfenhaus to P Collingwood, good length delivery, goes back and pushes away from his body to edge the outswinger behind the stumps. Haddin dives across and takes a good catch infront of first slip.

Over 66.3: Beaten! P Siddle to K Pietersen, good length delivery, oh dear again beats the bat with a magic ball just outside off, shaping in and holding its line.

Over 68.2: Three runs. P Siddle to M Prior , short of length delivery, punches that strongly in the gap through covers and will get three runs. The outfield has been heavy today.

Over 68.4: Boundary! P Siddle to M Prior , half volley, flicks the inswinger sweetly through squareleg for a boundary.

Over 70.1: No runs. Nathan Hauritz to M Prior , flatter trajectory delivery, defends it off the frontfoot. Hauritz has replaced Siddle.

Over 70.5: He is Caught! Nathan Hauritz to K Pietersen, quicker and flatter in the air, thats the most ridiculous shots every played! KP went for a predetermined paddle and had to fetch that from a mile outside off and the ball lobs up feebly towards short leg for an easy catch!

Over 71.6: No runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to M Prior , pitched up delivery, pushes the attempted yorker to covers. Time for drinks, another 18 overs left in the day’s play. England 241/5 in 72.0 Ovs (Prior 8* Flintoff 0*)

Over 70.1: No runs. Nathan Hauritz to M Prior , flatter trajectory delivery, defends it off the frontfoot. Hauritz has replaced Siddle.

Over 72.5: Boundary! Nathan Hauritz to A Flintoff, flatter trajectory delivery, gets an inside edge in his forward defence that strangely rushes away to the fine leg boundary unstopped.

Over 73.3: Single. M Johnson to A Flintoff, short and wide, drives it away to deep covers. Johnson has replaced Hilfenhaus.

Over 74.4: Boundary! Nathan Hauritz to A Flintoff, on the shorter side, goes back and hammers that through cover point for a boundary.

Over 75.1: Boundary! M Johnson to M Prior , pitched up delivery, squeezes the yorker towards slips where Clarke fails to stop it cleanly to his right to leak a boundary.

Over 75.6: Boundary! M Johnson to A Flintoff, half volley, plays a crashing drive through extra covers for a boundary that brings up a roaring applause from the crowd.

Over 77.1: Single. S Katich to M Prior , on the shorter side, pulls it away to deep squareleg. Katich has replaced Johnson.

Over 78.1: Boundary! Nathan Hauritz to M Prior , quicker and flatter in the air, from round the sticks and Prior sweeps it flat to deep mid wicket where Hughes fails to stop it on the bounce to his left.

Over 79.1: Boundary! S Katich to A Flintoff, flighted delivery, goes back and bottom edges his cut shot which runs through the legs off the slip fielder for a boundary.

Over 79.4: Boundary! S Katich to A Flintoff, flighted delivery, great placement from Freddie, he blasts that down the ground past the non striker for a boundary.

Over 80.1: No runs. M Johnson to M Prior , full toss, let’s that go to the keeper outside the off stump. Johnson has replaced Hauritz and is bowling with the second new ball.

Over 81.1: Single. Ben Hilfenhaus to M Prior , good length delivery, gets a leading edge that rolls along to deep point. Hilfenhaus has replaced Katich.

Over 81.4: Two runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to A Flintoff, short and rising delivery, pulls it down to squareleg and they pick up a couple that brings up the 50 of this partnership.

Over 81.6: Boundary! Ben Hilfenhaus to A Flintoff, bangs it short, thats at just 132.7 kmph and Freddie plays a smashing pull shot to wide mid wicket for a boundary.

Over 82.1: Three runs. M Johnson to M Prior , half volley, drives that wide juicy one to deep covers and gets a couple, there is another run thanks to the overthrow that goes high over Haddin.

Over 82.4: Three runs. M Johnson to M Prior , short of length delivery, plays a mistimed pull shot but its in the gap wide of mid on and they get three more runs.

Over 84.1: Boundary! P Siddle to M Prior , short of length delivery, opens the face of the blade in his backfoot drive to slide the ball down past gully for a boundary. Siddle has replaced Johnson.

Over 84.2: Boundary! P Siddle to M Prior , half volley, opens the face slightly to drive this wide juicy one through cover point for a boundary.

Over 85.1: Boundary! Ben Hilfenhaus to M Prior , good length delivery, looks to drive it on the up and the ball takes the edge and races away safely to the thirdman boundary.

Over 86.4: Bowled him! P Siddle to A Flintoff, good length delivery, looks to drive it on the up and ends up dragging his shot back onto the stumps!!

Over 88.3: Bowled him! P Siddle to M Prior , pitched up delivery, thats a dream inswinger that sneaks through the bat pad gap to take the inside edge and force its way onto the stumps. Prior was looking to play the cover drive.

Over 88.4: Boundary! P Siddle to S Broad, good length delivery, gets forward and pushes it defensively through the gap between the two gullies for a boundary.

Over 89.1: No runs. M Johnson to J Anderson, short and wide, drives it to covers. Johnson has replaced Hilfehnaus to bowl the final over.

Over 89.3: Two runs. M Johnson to J Anderson, pitched up delivery, drives that through covers and settles for two runs to shield Broad.

Over 89.6: No runs. M Johnson to J Anderson, good length delivery, goes back and tucks it to squareleg. That brings us to an end of Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at Cardiff. England 336/7 in 90.0 Ovs (Anderson 2* Broad 4*)