Cardiff. Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali led England’s charge to a 169-run victory over Australia with a day to spare in the first Test on Saturday to make a flying start in their bid to regain the Ashes.

Broad and Moeen took three wickets apiece as Australia, set an improbable target of 412, were shot out for 242 on the fourth day at Sophia Gardens.

“It’s a start. It’s a long series, it would be nice if it was a one-match series,” joked England captain Alastair Cook.

“We are going to have to play well for a long period of time but I am fully confident the guys are up to it.”

England, having drawn their last two series against the West Indies and New Zealand and with question marks over Cook’s captaincy, were given little hope by many of troubling Australia, who thrashed their old rivals 5-0 in 2013-14.

But in new coach Trevor Bayliss’s first match in charge, England produced an energized performance epitomized by their team spirit.

Australia, outplayed for much of the first three days, collapsed from 97 for one in their second innings on Saturday as wickets tumbled after lunch.

Big-hitting Mitchell Johnson bludgeoned 77 to hold Cook’s men up but they sealed victory when Josh Hazlewood holed out to long-off.

Timely boost

England will head to Lord’s for the second Test on Thursday knowing that of the last 17 Ashes series, the team that has eventually lifted the urn has won the opening Test 15 times.

David Warner’s dismissal by Moeen for 52 in the last over before lunch proved the key and gave England a timely momentum boost.

A revved-up Broad removed Steve Smith (33) and Michael Clarke (4) and when Mark Wood sent back Adam Voges (1), a reeling Australia had lost four wickets for nine runs in 36 balls.

Brad Haddin (7) also perished, slog-sweeping to mid-wicket, and when Shane Watson went lbw for the 29th time in Tests, Australia’s last hope of clinging on disappeared.

With the threat of rain on the final day, England were hungry for wickets and Broad’s fine opening spell in the morning session set the tone.

He removed Chris Rogers (10), after he was dropped on four, and repeatedly troubled Warner who battled to a half-century and threatened to cut loose until he was trapped lbw by Moeen.

Australia were deflated, England elated and the steady fall of wickets, each departing batsman greeted by huge cheers, left the tourists with plenty to ponder with a short turnaround before the second Test.

“We tried to play our natural game,” said visiting skipper Clarke. “Some guys played positive, others backed their defense a little more. Whatever we tried didn’t work today.”

Reuters

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