Root's ton leads

Cardiff

Joe Root made Australia pay for dropping him on nought by making a century that rescued England from a dire position on the first day of the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday.

Root's 134 was the cornerstone of England's stumps total of 343 for seven. He came in with England struggling at 43 for three after the loss of skipper Alastair Cook and Ian Bell in quick succession before lunch.

But he still upped the tempo and, with Yorkshire team-mate Gary Ballance who made a gritty 61, Root helped add 153 for the fourth wicket on a sluggish pitch. It took Root just 118 balls to complete his hundred the quickest in the first match of an Ashes series -- and was the 24-year-old's seventh century in only 28 Tests.

This was also Root's first Test innings against Australia since he was dropped for the climax of the 2013/14 Ashes campaign in Sydney -- a match England lost as they were routed 5-0. Root and Ben Stokes (52) put on a brisk 84 for the fifth wicket before both batsmen fell to left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc before stumps.

Moeen Ali was 26 not out and Stuart Broad unbeaten on nought at the close. Starc led Australia's attack with three wickets for 84 in 19 overs. But fellow left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, whose 37 wickets were central to Australia's success in the last Ashes, went wicketless as his 20 overs cost 87 runs.