CARDIFF, Wales, July 11: England beat the odds and Australia by 169 runs to surprisingly win the first Ashes test at Sophia Gardens on Saturday, inside four days.
The Australians began the day needing an Ashes-record and improbable 412 to win with plenty of time, but were all out for 242 in 71 overs, an hour after tea.
Ashes: England wins 1st test by 169 runs inside 4 days
The visitors were favored as the Ashes holders, and riding high from a Cricket World Cup triumph, sweep of the West Indies in the Caribbean, and comfortable warmup wins.
But they were out-played on a slow pitch, out-led, and made to pay for errors by an England side which rebounded from a heavy defeat to New Zealand in its last test.
The result was emphatic and key: The winner of the first test has won 15 of the last 17 Ashes series, including the last five.
The second test starts on Thursday at Lord's.
