England sparkle in the sun for Alastair Cook and signal the start of an exciting new era after Test win over Australia in the Ashes

• England beat Australia by 169 runs in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff
• Alastair Cook captained England excellently as they shocked the tourists
• Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace have liberated England on the field
• Ashes 2015: England vs Australia cricket news ahead of the second Test

By Oliver Holt For The Mail On Sunday

Published: 14:22 EST, 11 July 2015 | Updated: 04:47 EST, 13 July 2015

There was a raucous crowd at Sophia Gardens on Saturday. Not surprisingly, England fans were in the mood for a party. Beer snakes were passed around in the late afternoon sunshine like trophies. Half the spectators seemed to be in fancy dress.

There were men dressed as schoolgirls. Men in black tie. A group of rather portly Welshmen seated in front of the pavilion had all come as Flash Gordon in red lycra and spent much of the day engaged in animated conversation with some Australian women who were disguised as bananas.

On the pitch, though, something has changed these past four days by the banks of the River Taff. This England side is not part of a cabaret any more. It doesn’t feel as if they are actors in a cheap soap opera, either. They are a cricket team again.

England's players celebrate taking a 1-0 lead over Australia in the Ashes after a 169-run win in the first Test

The England team appears to be liberated by the management team of Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace

Bayliss (left) and Farbrace have galvanised England into a team that is once again looking forward

There was a raucous crowd at Sophia Garden as England defeated Australia in the opening Ashes Test

The days of insurrection and hubris appear to be over. For the first time since his exile, no one is playing in the giant shadow of Kevin Pietersen. United under the new, respected management team of Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace, a younger, fresher England team are looking forwards again, not back.

The feeling of change began after the arrival of Andrew Strauss as the ECB’s director of cricket and was given expression by the manner in which the exuberant early summer series against New Zealand was contested.

The pall of negativity that clung over the team under previous coach Peter Moores, the parochial, limited adherence to statistics, has been swept away by a new, aggressive, adventurous approach that is, frankly, a joy to behold.

Many thought Strauss was harsh when he observed that Moores had been ‘exposed around tactics and strategy’ but the truth is that England have thrived since he was removed. It is as if England’s players have been liberated.

But the proof of change, the test of whether it was really working, was always going to come against Australia in the Ashes. And when the test came here in Cardiff, England passed it with flying colours.

When England’s golden boy, Joe Root, backpedalled towards long-off just before 5.10pm and clutched one last desperate hoist from Josh Hazlewood to his chest to end Australia’s dying flash of resistance, England officially entered a new era.

They won this first Test by 169 runs, a crushing victory which left Australian skipper Michael Clarke lost for cogent answers afterwards. They were routed on Saturday. In one particularly devastating spell, they lost four wickets in the span of 36 balls.

England captain Alastair Cook led his resurgent England side to a stunning 169-run victory on Saturday

Captain Cook (left) employed aggressive field settings as England drew first blood in the Ashes series

Cook (right) took a tremendous catch at short mid-wicket off of Brad Haddin from the bowling of Moeen Ali

The result was an even bigger shock for the tourists, overwhelming favourites for this series just a few days ago, than it was for Alastair Cook’s resurgent England.

Even if he did not excel with the bat here, this victory was a personal triumph for Cook as well. He has become the face of England’s fall from grace in the last two years, widely pilloried for his caution as skipper and blamed for England’s decline.

But Cook has also been liberated by the influence of Farbrace and Bayliss. His field settings were aggressive and imaginative during this Test. England came into the match with plans for each batsmen and Cook and his bowlers stuck to them. They were disciplined and they were patient.

It was obvious the players were pleased for Cook, too. They could see a weight being lifted from his shoulders and their emotion was particularly evident when Cook took a magnificent catch at short midwicket early in the afternoon session to dismiss Brad Haddin and reduce Australia to 122 for six.

It was an ugly, cross-batted slog from Haddin but he hit it savagely straight at Cook. The effort of parrying the ball knocked Cook off his feet and as he fell, he reached out his right hand and plucked the catch out of the air.

His team-mates mobbed him as he lay on the floor. Some of them shook him with delight and then they pulled him to his feet. It was a picture of a courageous man who has refused to stay down despite everything that has been thrown at him.

Cook (centre) said afterwards he is pleased to begin to banish memories of the last Ashes series

Joe Root celebrates taking the catch of Josh Hazelwood to seal victory in the first Test for England

As well as making almost 200 runs, Root (top left) took two wickets on day four and the match-winning catch

The past is another country and Cook made it plain after the match that he is mightily glad to have departed its shores at last. ‘Before this match, everyone was talking about what had gone on in the past and losing 5-0 in Australia,’ Cook said.

‘But we have to look forward. We can’t control the past. I am very proud of the way the players have performed in this match. The guys are loving being around each other and there is a great spirit in the squad.’

Suddenly, it is Australia who are beset by demons as they contemplate the start of the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday. England have had their share of signature moments that symbolised previous Ashes struggles, notably Steve Harmison’s first-ball wide at the Gabba in November 2006.

This time, the Australians keep being reminded of how Haddin dropped Root in the first innings when the Yorkshireman had yet to score. In the manner of this new England team, Root was not cowed by his escape. He was undaunted. He went for his shots. He attacked. He went on to hit a century and win the man-of-the-match award.

Joe Root hit a magnificent century on day one of the Test for England against Australia in Cardiff

Australia keeper Haddin rues dropping Joe Root on 0 on day one, a moment that shaped the first Test

Former England captain Michael Atherton drew a comparison after the game between this England team and Michael Vaughan’s side which regained the Ashes in the glorious summer of 2005.

‘This is an aggressive team now with some young players who have not been scarred by defeat at the hands of Australia in the past,’ Atherton said. ‘This is the way they are going to play. They are not going to take a backward step.’

And so, as the spectators cavorted in their fancy dress in the sunshine on Saturday, they were greeted by the sight of England’s fielders crowded closely around the bat, hurrying Australia to their doom. At last, England are players in the kind of drama we can be proud of.

Comments (39)

Share what you think

• Newest
• Oldest
• Best rated
• Worst rated

 View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now