MX23RW : Thursday, December 19 08:10:35| >> :600:1136231:1136231:

Live Commentary: The Ashes - Fourth Test, Day One - as it happened

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of the first day of the fourth Ashes Test between England and Australia at Trent Bridge.
2

England have dominated the first day of the Fourth Test in the Ashes series, reaching the close of play at Trent Bridge with a lead of 214.

Stuart Broad was on form with the ball in the morning session, finishing with figures of 8-15 as Australia were bowled out for 60.

Joe Root led the charge with the bat for the hosts in the afternoon, hitting a century before moving on to 124 not out by stumps.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good morning! It's around half an hour until the action gets underway at Trent Bridge for the fourth Ashes Test. It's time for the toss...

ENGLAND WIN THE TOSS! Michael Clarke called heads, and it was a tail, so England have won the toss and Alastair Cook has decided the bowl first.

TEAM NEWS! As expected, Mark Wood comes in for James Anderson after missing the third Test with an injury. There's one change for Australia too as Shaun Marsh replaces brother Mitchell Marsh. Clarke confirms that he's going to bat at five.

It's not surprise that England have chosen to bowl first in this Test. It's an incredibly green wicket in Nottingham, would should give the bowlers plenty to work with.


Shaun Marsh coming in for Mitchell Marsh is an interesting choice for the tourists. Shaun Marsh has been in good form with the bat, but leaving his brother out leaves Australia a bowler down. It had been thought that the older of the Marsh brothers could replace Adam Voges, but he keeps his spot for the time being.

WEATHER WATCH! The Aussies will be wanting dry conditions as they need to force a result in at least one of the two remaining Tests to retain the Ashes. It looks like they should be alright today, with a 15% chance of showers this afternoon. However, should the Test go to a fifth day, it could end up being a draw as it's currently forecast to be rainy on Monday. Otherwise, it looks like a dry, bright weekend in Nottingham.

After winning the toss, England captain Alastair Cook told Sky Sports News: "It's not really a straightforward decision. There is green grass and overhead conditions, but it's a good wicket as well. It was an interesting call. Mark Wood is fully fit and has got a really good record at Trent Bridge for Durham. I think he will take new ball. We can't replace James Anderson's 400 wickets overnight, but we see potential in Mark and he'll be looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Australia skipper Michael Clarke added: "This is just another game for Australia. I've got to be at my best and lead from the front. I love the fact that my team has won or lost in every game. I like to see cricket played that way. I have similar feeling to before the start of the Lord's Test, when we came back after losing in Cardiff."

What was it we were saying about it not raining today? Well, there's a couple of drops falling at Trent Bridge at the minute, which has resulted in the crease being covered. It doesn't look like it will be staying around, but a bit of moisture in the outfield could help England, as the ball won't be racing away to the boundary as quickly.

Stuart Broad will more than likely reach a big milestone in this Test, as he comes into the match with 299 wickets to his name in the longest form of the game. The bowler admits that he's pleased to get the chance to bring up his 200 in Nottingham, telling Sky Sports News: "I couldn't pick a better place to try and get 300. I haven't done it yet, but I'd like the 300 to be part of 5-30. There's some fantastic names ahead of me and I don't like talking about it too much because I'm not there yet."

Before the start of play, a minute's applause is being held for Clive Rice, the former Nottinghamshire captain who sadly died last week after suffering with a brain tumour. The South African spent 12 years with the county side from 1975-87.

We're just hearing that the start of play has been delayed by five minutes because of the brief shower, so play will now get underway at 11.05am, which is just 10 minutes away. It will be Chris Rogers and David Warner to open the batting for Australia once to action to begin.

Australia batsman Adam Voges has been working hard in the nets this morning to make sure he has in eye in. If Australia feel the need to bring Mitchell Marsh back in for the fifth Test, you can't help but feel it will be Voges who is most under pressure for his spot if he doesn't record at least one big score in the next couple of days:


Fortunately it's brightened up at Trent Bridge again, so the wicket is now uncovered and the players are almost ready to head out of the pavilion ready for the start of play.

It's packed at Trent Bridge as the fielding side make their way out, closely followed by the Australian opening batsman. It looks like it will be Stuart Broad to open the bowling for England:


PLAY! The umpire yells play, and Broad charges in to delivery the first ball of the day.

WICKET! CHRIS ROGERS (0) C COOK B BROAD

What a start for England! Stuart Broad comes round the wicket to Chris Rogers, who gets one away to the boundary for leg byes, but a top edge off the next ball sees it go straight back into the hands of Alastair Cook at slip, giving Broad his 300th Test wicket, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Stuart Broad celebrates dismissing Chris Rogers on day four of the First Test of The Ashes on July 11, 2015© Getty Images

WICKET! STEVE SMITH (6) C ROOT B BROAD

Well it's certainly been an eventful first over! Steve Smith comes in for Rogers, and wastes no time getting off the mark, knocking the ball legside for two off the first delivery, before hitting it square to the boundary. He gets greedy on the third ball though, attempting a pull shot and edging it straight back to Joe Root.

WICKET! DAVID WARNER (0) C BUTTLER B WOOD

David Warner didn't face a single ball in the first over, while watching two of his teammates get out down the other end. He waves his bat at a tempting ball out wide from Mark Wood, but gets the slightest of touches on the delivery, allowing Jos Buttler to dive to his right to make the catch. Will Michael Clarke even have his pads on yet?

There's a worrying moment for Wood as he takes a tumble after sending an 89mph ball down to Michael Clarke, which the captain clips just past the clips for four. He gets back on his feet though, and doesn't appear to have done any lasting damage.

WICKET! SHAUN MARSH (0) C BELL B BROAD

That's now three Australian batsmen out for a duck as Shaun Marsh fails to get off the mark. He's lucky to make it this far as he chipped one just short of Moeen Ali two balls earlier, but a shorter delivery sees the ball pop up off the shoulder of his bat and straight into the safe hands of Ian Bell, giving Broad his third wicket of the day, and he hasn't even finished his second over!

It's a tentative start from Adam Voges as the ball catches him on the pad. Broad gives half a look to the umpire, but it looked like it was going just wide of leg stump. Buttler can't reach it either, leaving it to go for four leg byes.

Clarke is living dangerously as he slightly edges a pull shot, but the delivery comes down just short of Steven Finn. The captain knows that the pressure is on him to try to salvage something for the tourists, and he looks a little nervy.

WICKET! ADAM VOGES (1) C STOKES B BROAD

What a stunning catch from Ben Stokes! Voges thinks that he flashed the ball wide of the slips, but Stokes pulls off a one-handed diving catch and full stretch while in mid-air to give Broad his fourth wicket of the morning! Australia look utterly shell-shocked.

Peter Neville comes into the middle, and also finds himself heading straight back off as he leaves in in-swinging delivery from Broad which just misses the top of the stumps, but he reaches the end of the over otherwise unscathed.

Clarke is still playing his way in, but he hooks the ball away before scrambling for a single to reach double figures. He's not the top scorer yet though, as a no ball from Wood takes the extras onto 12. Incidentally, the lowest ever total in an Ashes innings was 36, which was by Australia at Birmingham in 1902.

WICKET! MICHAEL CLARKE (10) C COOK B BROAD

The match is just over half an hour old and Stuart Broad already has a five-for, as Clarke just catches a slightly wider delivery with the tip of his bat, leaving Cook to haul the ball by by reaching up high.

The pantomime villain of the series, Mitchell Johnson, makes his way out to the middle. There's a great sense of anticipation as Broad charges in at the bowler, who really represents the start of the tail for Australia, but he leaves the first two well, before blocking the next. The ball nips back in wickedly off the final ball of the over, but Johnson leaves it again, and it just misses his leg stump. Still, it's a wicket maiden over for Broad.

Steven Finn takes over from Wood, and after four dot balls Nevill finally gets off the mark with a quick single. Johnson leaves his leg stump wide open on the final ball of the over, but comes back across to block it nicely.

Stuart Broad gives away his first runs since the opening over, with Nevill picking up his second run before Johnson also scrambles for one, getting him off the mark after facing 11 deliveries.

WICKET! PETER NEVILL (2) B FINN

Steven Finn joins the wicket-taking frenzy as he sends a straight ball down towards Neville. The wicket-keeper gets an inside edge on the delivery though, slicing it back onto the stumps and removing the bails.

Mitchell Starc makes a nervous start as needlessly plays out an outswinging delivery. He gets off the mark before the end of the over though, clipping the ball away to the legside for a single, leaving Johnson to add another off the last ball of the over.

Johnson gets the ball away, allowing the duo to run for two, although Starc nearly loses his footing while getting back to the non-striker's end. Johnson gloves the ball away looking for a boundary, but Buttler quickly gets to his right to restrict the batman to a single.



Johnson has been patient at the crease so far, but he spots his chance to get the ball away to the boundary, slicing it behind for four. He gets another square through the legside again a couple of balls later, leaving him tied with extras as the top scorer for the tourists this morning with 13.

WICKET! MITCHELL STARC (1) C ROOT B BROAD

It's another excellent delivery from Stuart Broad, tempting Starc to take on a shot just outside the leg stump, and edging it straight to Joe Root, who takes his second catch of the day.

WICKET! MITCHELL JOHNSON (13) C ROOT B BROAD

Broad gets a second wicket in his seventh over of the innings as he sends down a similar ball to that which sent Starc packing a few moments earlier, and it gets the same result as Johnson slices it straight back to Joe Root. It has to be said, while Broad's bowling has been excellent, he's be aided by some fantastic fielding, and not one genuine chance at a catch has been missed so far.

Ben Stokes has already pulled off one a spectacular catch, and he tries again as Lyon edges a ball back in his direction, but the all-rounder can't quite get under it in time as it falls just short of the slips. Hazlewood does well though, clipping the ball away for three, which brings up the 50 for Australia.



Stuart Broad is going all out to get his eighth wicket of the day, seaming the ball at Hazlewood, but the 10th man in blocks well to extend the innings by at least one more over. It's another maiden for Broad though.

Lyon gets off the mark by striking it straight back down the ground for four. Broad gives chase, but doesn't quite reach it in time.

Broad tries to force Hazlewood into action with a couple of shorter balls, before the Aussie bowler has to duck out of the way of a bouncer. The final ball of the over moves in off the seam, but Hazlewood just dodges it to leave it. That's six dot balls off the over.

Finn shouts for lbw as the ball whacks Lyon on the pad, but it was right at the top of the pads, so the umpire shakes his head as it looked high. There's bad news for Mitchell Johnson on the next delivery as a no ball puts extras back in front with 14, but Lyon does manage to add a single to move on to five.

WICKET! NATHAN LYON (9) C STOKES B BROAD

What a performance from Stuart Broad this morning. On his home ground the Nottingham-born bowler finishes with figures of 8-15 to dismiss Australia for 60 after just over 90 minutes of action. Lyon was the last man to fall, finding the boundary just a couple of balls earlier before looking for the same shot again. Stoke makes another excellent catch to end the innings.
Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of Mitchell Johnson on the first day of the Fourth Test of The Ashes on August 6, 2015© Getty Images

Broad's haul leaves him level with the legendary Fred Trueman on 307 Test wickets. Assuming he takes at least one in the second innings he'll move up to fourth on England's all-time wicket-taker list by the end of the match.

England will have a little of time to bat before lunch, particularly as the session started a few minutes late because of the rain this morning. Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth will be wary of coming out too confidently, having both suffered early dismissals in this series so far.

Have you had a bet on this series? Well there could be some good news if you backed England, as at least one bookmaker has already announced that they're paying out on England winning back the urn.


Right then, Lyth and Cook are now out in the middle ready to get England's reply underway. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc is loosening up to bowl the first over for Australia.

Lyth doesn't take long to get off the mark as he powers the ball through the covers for four off the second ball of the innings, before leaving the four remaining deliveries. It's a solid start for England.

Josh Hazlewood is bowling from the other end, but he goes for four off the first ball as Cook strikes it square for a boundary. The bowler is annoyed midway through his over as the umpire calls a no ball. He really has nothing to complain about has he was a good three inches long of the line.

As you can probably imagine, Australia have been on the receiving end of a fair bit of Twitter banter this morning, not least from Notts Police:


LUNCH! Adam Lyth is back on strike as Starc charges in for his second over of the day, and the final before lunch. The opener tries to drive it through cover, but there's a fielder there to block it. He finds the gap two deliveries later though, finishing the session with a boundary.

So, it's Lunch at Trent Bridge, and it's lunch for Sports Mole too. We're taking a 30-minute break, but make sure you're back here from 1.35pm for the start of the afternoon session.

So, the players will be heading back out shortly for the afternoon session. Will we see another 10 wickets fall in the next couple of hours? Probably not, but it should be another entertaining session as England chase a total of just 61 for a first innings lead.

Here's another look at the man that will take all of today's headlines, barring something absolutely spectacular this afternoon. Stuart Broad completed the fastest-ever Test cricket five-for on his way to figures of 8-15, leaving him level with Fred Trueman on 307 career Test dismissals, and joint-fourth on England's all-time wicket-takers list.
Stuart Broad holds his ball proudly after claiming the wicket of Michael Clarke on the first day of the Fourth Test of The Ashes on August 6, 2015© Getty Images

He might not be part of the England set-up any more, but it looks like Kevin Pietersen is still delighted to see the team doing so well:


Right then, it's Josh Hazlewood to continue in the attack as the tourists get the action back underway at Trent Bridge.

Cook puts the first runs of the session on the board as he clips the ball to the offside to run for two. Hazlewood finds a good line with his last couple of balls though, narrowly missing the outside edge of the skipper's bat as he tries to force him to glance one behind.

Mitchell Johnson comes in for Mitchell Starc down the other end, and almost breaks the opening partnership when Cook catches the ball with the top edge of his bat, but it drops just short of the slips. Johnson is clearly eyeing the captain's wicket, but he tries too hard to force him into action, giving away a four off the last ball of his over.

Hazlewood continues his spell, and allows both batsmen a single, before continuing to look for he consistent line and length that made him such a difficult bowler to attack in the first two Tests.

Cook keeps the score moving as he cuts the ball away for four through the offside. Cook moves on to 15 by the end of the over, sprinting for a quick single, which keeps him on strike for the start of the next. It's good running by the openers, leaving England just 33 runs behind.

Lyth is struck on the pad by Hazlewood, resulting in a big shout from the tourists. The umpire shakes his head though. The line look pretty good, but it did hit the batsman above the rolls on the pad, so was probably a touch high. That's a good angle for Hazlewood to bowl to Lyth at though.

Australia are just starting to build the pressure as Hazlewood's maiden is followed by some quick, straight bowling from Johnson, forcing live to leave a couple and duck out of the way of another, but he manages to flick the final ball away for two to get a couple more runs on the board.

A single from Cook means England are half-way to a first innings lead, and still have all 10 wickets in hand. The England bowlers are clearly hoping that they're going to get the rest of the day off as Stuart Broad and Mark Wood are sat with their feet up on the balcony looking relaxed.

Johnson is varying the angle of his deliveries as he tries to force a mistake from Alastair Cook. He gets close to the skipper's bat a couple of times, but Cook to alert to the danger and lets the ball go straight through to the keeper, although Johnson does get a maiden.

WICKET! ADAM LYTH (14) C NEVILL B STARC

Mitchell Starc comes back into the attack for his first over since lunch and has an immediate impact. Lyth is a little slow to get his bat out the way of a swinging ball, slicing it back into the gloves of Peter Nevill.

Ian Bell strolls out to the middle to face the remaining four balls in Starc's over, and he's unable to get off the mark as Starc keeps the pressure on with some consistent deliveries.

Hazlewood is straight back into the attack down the other end, and the change suits him as he delivers six good to full-length balls, which Cook is unable to get away for runs. The tourists have really slowed the run-rate in the last 15 minutes.

WICKET! IAN BELL (1) LBW STARC

Bell is off the mark with a flick to the offside off Starc's bowling. Cook follows with a punchy shot behind to bring Bell back on strike, and the Warwickshire batsman is undone by an outswinging ball from Starc, which catches him right on the shin. He asks for the decision to be appealed, but it was catching his leg stump, so he has to go.
Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates dismissing Moeen Ali on day two of the First Test of The Ashes on July 9, 2015© Getty Images

Joe Root is the next man in, and Starc immediately tests him with a wider ball, which the Yorskshireman flashes his bat at, but doesn't get anything on it.

Australia's bowlers are really turning the screw now as they try to make up for the team's batting performance. Hazlewood gets a top edge off Cook, but the ball is just short of Voges at slip. The captain drives is straight back down the ground, but Warner is back to stop it reaching the boundary.

Cook has seen a couple of his teammates come and go in the last few minutes, but he's still scoring at a good rate, driving the ball away for four at the start of the over. Root gets back on strike towards the end of the over, although the final ball is delayed as Nevill needs a new pair of gloves. Root is still on 0 though, as he watches Starc's sixth delivery go straight through to the wicketkeeper.

Root scores his first runs since coming to the crease, pouncing on a loose ball from Johnson to add four. A leg bye brings up the 50-run mark later in the over, before a single from Cook leaves the home side just nine runs behind their opponents' total.

There's a bit of confusion between the two batsmen as Root wants a single, but Cook spots that there isn't time, leaving Root scrambling to get back inside his crease. There's no need to run on the next ball though as Root drives is excellently down the ground for four.

Johnson tries to force a mistake from Root, but the batsman clips the ball behind, and it goes for four to put England ahead. He gets the bat to a bouncer soon after, attacking the shorter ball to add another four to the scoreboard.

Starc catches Cook out with a pacy delivery, but it goes between second and third slip, with Clarke and Steve Smith both diving for it, but neither can make the catch as they almost collide in mid air, leaving it to run away for four. The captain gets another boundary soon after, but this time it's all his doing rather than a fielding mixup as he cuts to the offside superbly. He's just 13 away from a half-century now.

Root looks in excellent form this afternoon as he clobbers one away for four, before being gifted another boundary when Mitchell Johnson messes up an attempt at stopping the ball on the opposite side of the pitch off the next ball.

For the first time today we're going to see some spin as Nathan Lyon is coming into the attack for Mitchell Starc. Root picks up two, which is the first time that he's scored runs without the ball going to the boundary, and also brings up the 50-run partnership between him and Cook.

Hazlewood replaces Mitchell Johnson, as the fastman has been getting hit around the ground in his last couple of overs. Hazlewood is somewhat tidier, just giving away a couple of singles, but Root and Cook now both look incredibly settled in the middle. This could be an incredibly fruitful partnership for England.

The tourists have plenty of fielders close in as they look for an edge off Lyon's bowling, but Cook hooks it over the top for four. He just needs seven more to bring up the 50.

Root picks up just the one run off Hazlewood's bowling as he clips the ball away to his left, while the bowler gives away another run for a wide. Hazlewood has kept the run rate down well this afternoon, but hasn't done too much to threaten the stumps.

Starc is looking for inswinger to try to cause problems for Joe Root. The batsman isn't fooled though, getting just enough on it to keep it away from the stumps, before picking up two off the final ball of the over.

Nathan Lyon is going to have another go, this time from the other end after not finding that much turn from he pavilion end so far. However, his over has to be paused as Joe Root is being distracted by something in the background. It would appear that he's being put off by the sun reflecting off the windscreen of a van delivering beer to the ground, so England send someone with a blanket to cover it up. Meanwhile, Lyon finishes up with a maiden.

WICKET! ALASTAIR COOK (43) LBW STARC

Starc gets his third wicket of the afternoon, and it's a big one as he stops the England captain getting to his half-century. Cook has been stuck on 43 for a couple of overs, with Root seeing the majority of the strike. A few quiet minutes appear to have cost him as he mis-reads full-straight delivery from Starc, giving the umpire an easy leg before decision. It doesn't get much more clear-cut than that.

Johnny Bairstow joins Yorkshire teammate Joe Root in the middle, and faces the final two balls of Starc's over without too much trouble.

TEA! With just a couple of minutes remaining until tea, Michael Clarke brings Mitchell Johnson back on to have a go at Root. He quickly picks off a single though to get off strike. He gets off the mark with a shot to the legside, running for two before dodging the final two balls to ensure than England reach the interval with a lead of 39.

So England are still very much in control in this match, already bettering Australia's total with seven wickets in hand. Mitchell Starc has ensured that the tourists are still in the match though, claiming the wickets of the top three batsmen for the home side.

Alastair Cook may have fallen just short of a half-century, but the captain's knock of 43 took him past another landmark:


Stuart Broad's dad, Chris Broad, has been speaking about the bowler's performance in the first innings. Broad picked up eight wickets, including his 300th. His father told BBC Sport: "He chatted to me a couple of days a go and I was a bit concerned that he was a bit too focused on getting one wicket for his 300th. So to get one in his first over was a release."

Johnny Bairstow will resume on two after tea, which will be in just a few minutes. He didn't get much of a chance in the third Test, dismissed early on by Mitchell Johnson before not being needed in the second as England clinched an eight-wicket win. He'll be hoping for more runs in the evening session to prove to the selectors that he was worth the recall.

Former England wicketkeeper turned pro-cycling team owner Matt Prior is among the spectators, and he seems pretty happy with what he's seen in Nottingham today:


The players are starting to make their way back out for the start of the evening session, with Joe Root and Johnny Bairstow in the middle for England. It's Mitchell Starc to continue the bowling.

England move into three figures off the second ball of the over as Root squeezes a low ball past Adam Voges for four. Root picks out the rope again a couple of balls later, moving him on to 41.

Root and Bairstow both add singles at the start of the over, so Clarke makes some changes to the field to try to help Mitchell Johnson. Bairstow still finds a gap though, ensuring that England keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Peter Nevill appeals as he takes a catch off what he thinks is an edge from Bairstow. There was no reaction from Starc though, so Clarke isn't convinced enough to appeal. It's an expensive over from Starc though as Root adds another boundary off the last delivery, securing seven off the over and leaving him just two runs short of a half-century.

There's a huge appeal from Mitchell Johnson as he striker Bairstow on the bad, but there were two noises, and Clarke insists that the bat came first, so once again there's no appeal. The bowler finishes the over with a couple of hostile bouncers, but the batsman handles then well to leave Johnson with a maiden.

50! Mitchell Johnson appears to be enjoying himself on the boundary as he signs a couple of autographs. Back in the middle though, Root takes a big stride down the wicket to sweep the ball away for four, taking him past the 50-run mark.

Bairstow has a half-worried expression as he cuts the ball behind towards the stumps, but it just misses and carries on for four, having also found the boundary rope on the ball before. Clarke is changing the field again, calling for pads and a helmet for Chris Rogers. Bairstow ducks of the way of a high ball, and Nevill is unable to get a hand to it, leaving the ball to go through to the rope for four byes. In total, it's an expensive over for Johnson. Meanwhile, the England physio is coming out as Root is struggling a bit with his back.

Hazlewood comes back in after a few overs rest, buts Root continues to find the boundary rope at the moment, clobbering the seamer away for four, before adding a single late on. England now lead by 82.

Bairstow continues to patiently pick up singles, bring up his 50-partnership with Root. Root wastes no time adding more runs either, pummeling Johnson to the boundary again. Root has now scored 63 runs - more than the entire Australia lineup managed this morning.

Hazlewood is still working on his accuracy, and he finds the ideal line to bowl at Joe Root, with a full inswinging ball just missing the edge of the England batsman's bat. If he can work that line more consistently, it could have a result, but right now Root still looks very comfortable at the crease.

With Mitchell Marsh dropping out for this Test, Australia have just four bowlers on the field, so Nathan Lyon is coming back on to take the pressure off the seamers. The spinner doesn't get hit around the ground, it still doesn't look like there's too much turn. Meanwhile, Mitchell Johnson is still busy signing autographs on the boundary rope.

Hazlewood concedes just the one run in his over as Root gets a quick single. Bairstow's scoring rate how slowed somewhat in the last couple of overs. He had been picking up almost a run per delivery faced at the start of his innings, but he's now on 20 off 36. England will be hoping that he doesn't try to force a boundary and give away his wicket.

Bairstow doesn't need to force the runs as he times a sweep against Lyon to perfection to guide the ball behind for a boundary, which gives England a lead of more than 100. Root gets another single, which leaves England 102 up.

Bairstow is a little lucky as he flicks the ball behind, just clearing the slips to get a boundary. A sweep on the next delivery takes him on to 30. Root had some attention from the physio earlier, struggling with a stiff lower back, and he's still not moving all that swiftly between the wickets, but he does quickly get off strike, and continues trying to stretch it out down the other end.

Lyon continues down the other end, and Root quickly gets the ball away for four more. Most of his 75 runs have come from boundaries this afternoon, which is just as well as he's still not looking comfortable on the move.

Hazlewood has been getting better and better in the last couple of overs, picking out an excellent line towards Root. As a result, the batsman has to face six dot ball, but he keeps himself of of trouble to leave the Aussie with another maiden.

After a bit of a rest, Mitchell Starc is back into the attack for Australia. Bairstow is on strike, and has to block a couple of dangerous deliveries before getting off strike, leaving Root to add another two balls later.

Root continues to be hampered by his back, but he's timing his shots just beautifully, cutting the ball square to the boundary, taking him into the 80s. Bairstow also adds four with a straight drive back down the ground.

Bairstow is late with his shot, getting a thick outside edge on a Starc delivery, but he's lucky, getting just enough on it to carry it over the slips and away for four ahead of the drinks break.

100 PARTNERSHIP! Mitchell Johnson is coming back on to try to break up what is turning into a solid partnership for England. Root has had a lot of success finding the boundary rope against Johnson's bowling this afternoon, and he does so again, with the same cut square of the wicket two deliveries in a row to bring up the 100 partnership with his Yorkshire teammate, and move Root into the 90s.

Bairstow is on strike as Starc charges in, and he quickly gets the ball away through the offside for four more, finishing the over just two runs short of a half-century. It's just the kind of innings he needed after struggling at Edgbaston.

Baistow moves onto 49 with a quick single, bringing Root back onto strike in the nervous 90s while facing Mitchell Johnson, but he leaves the last couple of deliveries in the over. Johnson just hasn't had his usual impact today, and he looks frustrated as he strolls back to the boundary.

50! After three dot balls, Bairstow gets the slightest touch on the ball to guide one through to the boundary for his half-century. There's a suggestions that the ball might not have actually made contact with the bat, so it probably should have been byes, but the umpire signals runs, and Bairstow gladly takes it.
Jonny Bairstow bats for England against Australia at Lord's on July 18, 2013.© Getty Images

Root continues to creep towards the ton as he clips the ball away for a single, before Bairstow does the same of the last ball of the over in an otherwise uneventful over from Johnson. It looks like something rather unusual could be happening next though, as David Warner is loosening up in the outfield. The batsman bowled a bit of medium pace when he first came into the Test side, but hasn't bowled a lot in recent years.

Warner is indeed coming into the attack, and he always has an immediate impact, with Bairstow clearly a bit unsure what to expect. He goes early at the ball and almost slices it straight to the slips, but it just clears the fielders to go for a boundary. He gets a single to bring Joe Root into strike against Warner, which has potential to get explosive given their history. Root calmly blocks a couple though before getting a single to keep the strike for the start of the next over.

Warner tries for the run out, flinging the ball back in to Johnson, who goes for the stumps, but just misses. If that had made contact, Bairstow would have been out. Root manages to get three off the over though, leaving him just four away from the century.

CENTURY! Joe Root brings up his eighth Test century as he slices the ball away, just missing the fielder at mid-off to reach the boundary off Warner's over, resulting in cries of "Roooooooooot" all around Trent Bridge. He finishes the over on 101 off just 130 deliveries. It really has been a commanding performance from Root this afternoon.
England batsman Joe Root celebrates after reaching his century during day one of the 1st Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at SWALEC Stadium on July 8, 2015© Getty Images

Johnny Bairstow is still going well down the other end for England, having got to the 50-run mark just a few overs again, he's already moved on to 63, continuing to carefully pick off Mitchell Johnson's looser deliveries. With the pacy bowler having to take a greater share of the overs than normal, he hasn't had the same impact as usual today, and is giving away easy runs.

Warner is continuing with the ball for Australia, and he deliveries a wide which flies well over Joe Root's head. He's giving away plenty of runs, but Michael Clarke's thinking is understandable, as the batsman won't really know what to expect from Warner. He's already come close to removing Bairstow, and might just find the odd ball that catches one of these two out by the end of the day.

Josh Hazlewood takes over from the weary looking Johnson, but it's a costly over as both batsmen find the boundary to take their partnership past the 150-mark, while Root is fortunate as an inside edge misses his bales. England's lead is now 189 runs.

The David Warner Experiment comes to an end as Nathan Lyon is going to have another go. There's a couple of footholes starting to form, which gives the spinner something to aim at, but Root reads his deliveries well, picking up another four.

Hazlewood tries to tempt Bairstow with a slightly wider ball, hoping that the batsman might edge it, but he times his stroke to perfection to drive it through cover for a boundary. For the second time in the evening session, a ball completely clears Nevill's head, racing away for four byes. Meanwhile, Mitchell Johnson is stretching again, so it looks like he will return before the close of play.

England's lead is now more than 200, and Lyon continues to find himself getting battered, with Root sweeping the ball away for a six to move on to 121 off 149 balls, while Bairstow adds a single.

WICKET! JOHNNY BAIRSTOW (74) C ROGERS B HAZLEWOOD

Well, there's no century for Johnny Bairstow this time, but the Yorkshire batsman can be happy with his innings. It comes to an end when he hooks the ball straight to Chris Rogers at square leg.

Root takes advantage change of batman to get some more treatment from the physio. He's still not looking comfortable with his back. Mark Wood has come in as a nightwatchman in place of Ben Stokes, with just a few minutes remaining in the day, and he blocks the remaining ball in the over.

Root isn't afraid to let Wood take the strike, quickly picking up another single before leaving the bowler to face Lyon, but he gets off the mark with a sweep of his own off the final delivery of the over.

Wood adds another off Hazlewood's bowling, flicking the second ball of his over away for a single. Root edges the ball back towards the slips, but it doesn't quite carry to Clarke at second slip. That's a big let off for the centurion.

STUMPS! Mitchell Starc is back on with just a couple of minutes remaining in the day. He's looking for Wood's edge as the England bowler is left on strike. He flashes the ball at a wider ball, but just gets out of the way in time. He does eventually connect with one, but there's a fielder back at fine leg to block it, so the batsmen decide not to risk a quick single, and he leaves the last couple of balls to see out the day.

Joe Root heads off to a standing ovation as he finished the day 124 not out, which is more than twice what Australia were bowled out for this morning. The home side will resume on 274-4 tomorrow, 214 runs ahead. Mark Wood did his job well as nightwatchman, seeing out the final over in its entirety. There can be no doubt, this has been England's day.

So, that's all from Trent Bridge today, but join us again from 10.30am tomorrow for build up to the second day at the fourth Test at Trent Bridge. Until then, thanks for joining me throughout today. Goodbye.

ID:237562: cacheID:237562:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:70713:
Written by
Sian Cowper
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Australia's Mitchell Johnson celebrates a wicket during day two of the second Ashes Test at Lord's on July 17, 2015
Read Next:
England on brink after top order collapse
>