England declared at 393 for eight before Australia closed on 14 without loss.
JOE ROOT’S FIRST Ashes century in eight years provided calm amid the storm as England and Australia traded blows in a high-octane opening day at the first LV=Insurance Test.
The renewal of Stuart Broad’s personal duel with David Warner provided some late theatre, but Australia will resume on 14 without loss after surviving the challenge. He hustled and bustled his way to 78 at exactly a run-a-ball, bossing a stand of 121 with Root and proving the badly broken leg that interrupted his career-best hot streak last summer had not dulled his effectiveness.But England needed someone to go on, take it deeper and hold the line as Australia repeatedly made timely breakthroughs on an placid pitch. That man was Root.
Twice he pulled out his audacious reverse ramp, dispatching Scott Boland and then Cummins over his shoulder for six, and he was building to a crescendo when Stokes declared.The first ball of the Ashes has acquired a mythology of its own over the years, with the most memorable moments falling in Australia’s favour.
The crowd roared its approval, joined by an England balcony who had seen their fighting talk come to life in a matter of seconds. By contrast, Australia quickly reverted to defensive field placings, piling up the boundary riders in a clear attempt to throttle England’s aggressive game.
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