The Ashes 2015 DAY FOUR recap: England vs Australia cricket score from Cardiff

And so it's on to Lord's on Thursday for the second chapter in this battle for the coveted urn.

A truly brilliant performance by England over these past four days in Cardiff and they will make the journey back to London with a 1-0 win.

All the talk in the months, weeks and days leading up to the series was of Australia being too good and too strong, but Michael Clarke's men were battered.

Australia have some thinking to do ahead of Lord's on Thursday. They have lost their last two Ashes Tests there in 2013 and 2009 and could well be without Mitchell Starc through injury. These are the world champions we are talking about, though, so expect a strong response.

It's been a brilliant day, and our report is live for you now HERE. Stay tuned to the site this evening for more reaction from the Swalec Stadium. That's all from me, though. Thanks for your company...

That's the end of that! Root takes the catch in the deep as Hazlewood runs down the pitch and scoops a Moeen Ali delivery straight up into the air. 

A fabulous performance from England and the crowd erupt. Alastair Cook's men draw first blood in this Ashes series and it's onwards to Lord's next week to see how Australia respond. 

If it's any consolation, they at least have an extra day off with this match finishing a day early.

If there was any doubt over who would win man of the match, Root has sealed it with that spell.

'Stand up if you're 1-0 up' is the cry from the crowd. Not yet boys...

GOT HIM! Johnson goes, and England are on the verge now.

Credit to Root for continuing to toss the ball up to Johnson having taken a bit of a battering. Johnson gets a faint edge and Lyth takes another catch in the slips at chest height.

England's fast bowlers tried their socks off to break the Johnson-Starc partnership, and on came Root to dismiss them both. As I said earlier, the man with the golden touch.

The champagne is on ice...

Hazlewood showing positive intent here down the order. No point in him blocking for his life, just play some shots and have some fun. HE played a lovely inside out cover drive over the top off Moeen Ali there for a boundary.

Five more from that over.

Johnson still looking to attack Root, who in turn is still tossing the ball up and getting good spin.

Five runs from that over in total.

There are 22 overs left in the day and England will be given an extra half hour by the umpires if they need it. I remember during the 2013 series at Lord's when Australia hung on all the way until the final over of day four before England wrapped up the match. Could we be in for a late finish here as well?

Nice timing from Hazlewood through midwicket to pick up his first boundary.

Nine runs from that Ali over in total. Will be interesting to see how Johnson changes his approach now so close to a century and running out of partners.

A break-through over for Root and England are closing in now. That was a strong partnership down the order, but England remained patient and have broken it. 

Paul Newman reports: 'England needed that! Just when we were all starting to get a bit twitchy again up pops Joe Root and that's a good reaction catch from Adam Lyth after Alastair Cook's parry. We thought that Mitchell Johnson might be a danger to England in this series but not with the bat! He's still there but Mitchell Starc has gone and, with his ankle clearly giving him problems, will we see him again in this series? I'm pretty sure he won't be at Lord's next week. two wickets to go, England.'

Root has got a wicket! Once again he breaks a partnership for England and Starc has to go. He edged to Cook at gully, but the ball just hit the England captain before ricocheting to Lyth in the slips.

England need just two more wickets to win now.

Just a single from that Moeen Ali over from Johnson, who must be careful not to throw this away with a loose shot against a spinner.

He must be there when the new ball comes in 15 overs from now. There was one occasion where he charged down the wicket and the ball was in the air for a while after hitting bat and pad.

Spin from both ends now as Root comes into the attack. Cook may be now just keeping his seamers fresh for the second new ball, while also maybe trying to accelerate it.

Johnson lets loose on Root, though, He starts the over with two cracking drives down the ground for four before lofting him over mid-on for a huge six.

Root ends the over well by spinning one past Starc's outside edge, but he took a hammering there. 17 runs from the over and Australia's target is now less than 200 runs away.

Spin into the attack as Ali returns, and he has an appeal for lbw turned down. Starc was rapped on the pads but outside the line of off-stump. Nobody was really too excited about that.

Just a leg bye from the over.

A sublime back-foot punch through the covers from Johnson brings up Australia's 200, the 50 partnership and a very good half-century for Johnson. Plenty on the Australian balcony come out to applaud the effort from the No 8 and the Australian fans in the crowd rise to their feet. They have had very little to cheer today, or this week to be honest.

Not a lot on offer for Broad or any of England's seamers with this older ball. The new cherry is 18 overs away, so in just over an hour. That over will probably be Broad's last for now until that new ball.

Johnson continues to demonstrate that there are runs to be had on this pitch once you get yourself in. He's making it look incredibly easy out there at the moment and another boundary takes him onto 48.

Johnson angles Broad away for a couple of runs behind square on the off side before a firm pull into the leg side for a boundary to mid-wicket to take him to 44.

The left-hander got a tad excited, though, as he attempted a huge heave but missed by a mile. Broad gave him a stare to say that he was not impressed with that.

EDGED but just short of the slips from Starc and the ball runs through a gap in the cordon all the way to the boundary for four. Unfortunate for Wood, who continues to steam in and put the ball in the right areas.

A cracking drive from a Broad half-volley with the last ball of the over from Johnson. He helps himself to four more and moves onto 38.

Johnson looking very good. No alarms for Australia after tea.

Starc has a flash and drives for four. In the air and dangerous from Starc, but he picks up a boundary through the covers.

Cook trying to keep his team going with words of encouragement from the slips. Been a bit too easy for this pair after tea.

A single for Starc from the last ball takes a maiden away from Broad, who continues after the tea interval.

A quiet start after tea from England.

A couple of boundaries in the first over after tea from Wood.

Johnson edged the first delivery away along the ground to the third man fence before a lovely drive later in the over.

Johnson continuing to play his shots. He's onto 34 now and has looked even more comfortable than all those above him.

Starc and Johnson stride to the middle, but not with the ball in hand. Instead they will resume this innings with Australia in deep trouble. Can the tourists prolong this Test into a fifth day with a dodgy forecast tomorrow?

All will be revealed I guess. Wood has the ball in hand and we're ready for the evening session...

England, the overwhelming underdogs before this series began four days ago, are just three wickets away from what will surely be their sweetest Ashes victory on home soil since that iconic 2005 series.

There was 29 minutes of carnage after lunch that saw three Australian wickets fall and then 85 minutes of calm – punctuated briefly by the wicket of Brad Haddin - before Shane Watson was trapped lbw, this time by Mark Wood, for the 14^th time in 35 innings against England.

After he was yesterday pinned leg before in Australia’s first innings by Stuart Broad, one of my colleagues wrote that if there was a film made of Watson’s life it would be titled ‘My Left Pad’.

But, at the age of 34, is the curtain now about to come down on Watson’s international career? With the 23-year-old all-rounder Mitchell Marsh having hit two centuries already on this tour, Australia may have an overwhelming urge to purge a player whose career has always seemingly flattered to deceive.

Watson’s departure, inevitably after yet another fruitless DRS review, left rocking on Australia 151-7. Their notional victory target of 412 was always a pipe dream but, with 35 overs of the day left, England are threatening to hand out a hammering as anything they suffered themselves during a painful 2013-14 Ashes tour.

The tourists had held their nerve in a tense morning session, adding 78 for the second wicket after the loss of Chris Rogers 44 minutes into the day.

That was until Warner was dismissed by Moeen Ali with the final delivery before lunch and, with England seemingly revived by the break, they came storming out of the traps this afternoon to take three wickets and precipitate a collapse that saw Australia lose four for nine runs in 36 balls.

Steve Smith, the world’s No.1 batsman no less, was the first to fall to the seventh ball after lunch, edging a pumped-up Stuart Broad to Ian Bell at second slip.

Michael Clarke was next, Broad again the bowler as Australia’s captain picked out Ben Stokes at backward point.

Wood then got in on the act, Adam Voges falling for one after edging behind, as the Aussies slipped to 109-5.

Moeen was then struck again after being brought back on, captain Alastair Cook taking a superb catch at short mid-wicket to see the back of Brad Haddin.

There was then a lull before Wood saw off Watson. Now it is now surely only a matter of time before England deliver the knockout blow in the final session.

Three runs from that Ali over and that will take us to tea.

England are just three wickets from a quite fabulous Test victory. This has been one of the most complete England performances I can remember. Australia came to England as hot favourites, but they have been completely outplayed in this Test. Be back very soon for the final session of day four, and probably this Test.

Starc off the mark with a whip off the hips. It was a bit of a leading edge, but four runs all the same.

Seven runs from that Wood over in total and there is time for one more before tea.  

Ali still tossing them up and tempting Johnson, but he's so far refusing to play ball and in the end just takes a single from the over to keep the strike.

Good stuff from Ali. He has bowled really well after lunch.

A return to the attack for Wood brings a wicket in his first over. How many times has that happened in this match?

Watson lasted 58 deliveries but has fallen before tea. That brings Starc to join his fellow left-arm fast bowler Johnson at the crease. England closing in!

GOT HIM! Watson has been trapped lbw once again, and once again he reviewed it, but hawk-eye showed the ball to be clipping leg stump from Wood.

Watson's resistance ends and Australia's can't be that far away now. England are three wickets from victory.

Paul Newman reports: 'Shane Watson lbw! And Shane Watson reviews! It's like 2013 all over again! And it's out. Twenty nine times he has been out lbw in Test cricket. And I'm sure he would have reviewed them all had he had the chance. Great stuff Mark Wood and the end could well be night here now for Australia.'

Watson pinches a single from the final delivery to keep the strike and spoil a maiden for Stokes.

We have 40 overs remaining today, plus the extra half hour if England request it and this game hasn't finished by then.

This has been solid resistance from Watson and Johnson, but England just have to stay patient now. They have done the majority of the hard work and have plenty of time to finish things off.

Watson still wants to be aggressive to Ali. A couple of times in that over he used his feet to come down the wicket.

Johnson was tempted to loft one over the top as well in that over, and he just managed to get it wide of Stokes at mid-on before watching the ball race away to the boundary.

Controlled aggression at the moment from these two. Picking their deliveries and taking their time.

A change in ploy from England maybe as they send two men back to the boundary for the hook for Johnson, perhaps just to keep him honest.

It's another maiden for England, this time for Stokes, but in the last 20 minutes or so it has been a bit too comfortable for Watson and Johnson.

Ali continuing to keep the pressure on as he concedes just a single from that over.

Half an hour until tea and these two will be desperate to get there with no further damage. Both Watson and Johnson have looked very assured when none above them did.

A change in bowling as Ben Stokes comes back into the attack. No let up from Cook and no respite for Australia.

It's an expensive start from Stokes, though as he leaks eight runs, including a boundary as Watson rolls his wrists and pulls the fifth delivery away to the fence.

I didn't think it would be long. Johnson frees his arms and swings his bat to heave Ali away over mid-wicket for six. That's what he's capable of and I expect we will see a few more swings from him all the time he is at the crease.

Anderson continues - and delivers another maiden. England's leading bowler has been very good and disciplined today but somehow doesn't have a wicket to his name yet.

Maiden over from Ali. He conceded 22 runs in his first two overs, but in four overs since he has conceded just one run and taken two wickets.

Scoring rate just two runs per over in this session - it has been an absolute mauling.

Three runs from that Anderson over as Australia move on to 130 for six. Johnson tucked the first delivery off his pads into the leg side to run three.

Ali resumes after the drinks interval and he seems to have his rythym back now after a rocky start earlier in the day.

Get the feeling that Johnson will not just hang around here - he will play his shots as normal and England won't mind that as it will give them more chances.

Just a single from the over.

Four runs from that Anderson over and that will take us to drinks.

What an hour after lunch that was. Some of the best English cricket I have seen in recent memory, certainly since the 2005 Ashes.

Australia have fallen from 97 for one to 126 for six in the space of 14 overs. It's been absolute chaos.

England will want to wrap this up now.

In strides Mitchell Johnson and Australia are in disarray now. The writing is on the wall now.

Ali makes the breakthrough once again in his first over of a new spell like he did before lunch. It's surely only a matter of time now and a Sunday off for England having wrapped up a four-day victory.

For the record - Australia still need 290 runs to win.

It was time for spin... and Ali has another wicket with his first ball of the spell. 

Haddin trying to be aggressive with a pull towards mid-wicket, and Cook palmed the ball in the air before grasping it one-handed on the way to the ground. Terrific catch from the captain... just four more to go.

Paul Newman reports: 'What a catch from Alastair Cook! And what a bowling change! Moeen Ali strikes with the first ball of his spell and Brad Haddin, the one man you feel could have made life hard for England, has gone. Everything is going England's way and everything is going the captain's way. Sensational, England. Sensational.'

Lovely straight drive from Watson, taking a purposeful stride down the wicket and leaning into it. Anderson is looking for that lbw that Watson is very susceptible to, but that was just too full.

Maybe time for a bit of spin?

Haddin and Watson have just settled proceedings after that mad spell which saw four wickets fall in the blink of an eye.

Just two runs from that Wood over for Haddin.

Anderson back into the attack to come steaming in at Haddin, a man who admitted he doesn't like facing the England fast bowler.

Just a single apiece from that over, and good to see the Australian fans in the crowd with a sense of humour even with their team in all sorts of trouble. A couple of them held umbrellas up just now, trying to convince the umpires to take the players off. No rain threat at the moment or this afternoon.

Haddin off the mark with a boundary but not convincing. He pulls, but ends up bottom edging the ball just past his stumps away to the fine leg boundary.

Well bowled again from Wood to keep the heat on this pair.

How about this for a funky field from Alastair Cook? Three close catchers for the drive for Shane Watson, two short mid ons and one short mid off, and the pressure is really on the under-performing Australian.

Plans from Trevor Bayliss, who knows these Australian batsmen so well? Quite possibly. Whatever it is, it is fair to say that Cook has absolutely embraced the new fearless style of attacking cricket that England have adopted. A conservative leader no more.

Watson off the mark with a couple of runs into the off side from a slightly over-pitched delivery from Broad. Australia need all the experience of this pair now. They still need more than 300 runs to win this Test match. It's looking highly unlikely, but all they can do is fight.

Another good over from Broad. His figures read 3-21 from 10 overs.

Fantastic over from Wood. Fast, ferocious and accurate. England are all over Australia. Just 33 overs have gone in this innings and England are one wicket away from getting into that tail.

Amazing atmosphere in Cardiff and Cook's men are delivering a performance to match.

AND ANOTHER! What is happening out there?

This is madness. Absolute carnage. Voges has a little nibble at a delivery from Wood that just held it's line and Buttler does the rest behind the stumps. Five down - five to go.

Paul Newman reports: 'And that's the fourth wicket for nine runs with Mark Wood getting in on the act! Adam Voges has not had the happiest of Ashes debuts that's for sure and this day has been transformed in England's favour. Wood is a really good addition to this England side. he really does have the potential to be the Simon Jones of this England Ashes team 10 years on.'

Broad is even taking time out to get the crowd pumped up and ask for more noise.

Unbelievable bowling from England led by Broad. Watson is the next man to the crease and immediately Broad goes a bit wider on the crease to angle the ball back into Watson's pad, looking for another lbw decision.

And another one! Broad is on a roll. England are on fire.

Three wickets in six overs now for just nine runs.

Clarke lets his hands go at a wide delivery and the ball squirmed away off the outside half of the bat right into the open hands of Ben Stokes at backward point. 

Stunning stuff from Broad.

Paul Newman reports: 'And Broad has done it again! And it's the big wicket of Michael Clarke! England really in the box seat now and Broad has got three of them! That one was simply the result of pressure being built up on the Australian captain and it forced him to play a poor shot and being caught out tamely at point. There are cricketers who seem to be at their best on the biggest occasion and when their side most need them to be. Stuart Broad is one of them.'

A maiden, again from Wood. This Australian pair have been forced back into their shell after England's double breakthrough. Just five runs in the 4.3 overs we have had since lunch.

England keeping the pressure on.

Another very good, accurate over from Broad with just a single coming from it from the final delivery to get Voges off the mark.

Broad really has been excellent today. I can't remember many performances as consistently excellent as this. He has always had a magic spell or over in him, but this has been fantastic all day.

Another change in bowling from Cook as Ali is taken out of the attack and the pace of Wood returns. Cook doesn't want Clarke to settle against spin with which he is so comfortable, but instead give him a hostile welcome.

It's a maiden from Wood to start with. Very well bowled to keep the pressure on. Clarke being very watchful there. He knows that batting long is what his team needs.

What a difference a couple of overs makes. England's quick double strike either side of lunch has given this a totally different perspective. Adam Voges the Ashes debutant strides to the crease to join his captain Michael Clarke with a big job to do.

Paul Newman reports: 'Huge, huge wicket! What a strike from Stuart Broad on his return to the attack after lunch. I think he might be having one of those days of his that we saw at the Oval in 2009 and Durham in 2013! Broad is such a competitor, such a great man to have in your side. A wicket just before lunch and one straight after and that will make England supporters feel a lot less nervous.'

Got him! Three down, seven to go. Another one bites the dust!

Smith just pushing at a Broad delivery outside his off-stump and he just glides the ball in Ian Bell's direction in the slips for him to gratefully accept an easy catch. Just like the practice drills these batsmen go through in the morning.

Two wickets in a rush after a stubborn partnership and England are right on top again.

Ali completes his breakthrough over from before the lunch interval. Cries of catch straight away against captain Clarke but he clearly hit the ball into the ground.

A wicket-maiden for Ali, just the response he needed to two expensive overs earlier in the day. Smith and Clarke are both fantastic players of spin, so this battle with Ali should make for excellent viewing.

The umpires make their way back to the middle, as do the England team as they continue their quest for these second-innings wickets. Steve Smith will be joined by captain Michael Clarke and the pair have a big job on their hands.

Moeen Ali will finish off the 27th over he started before lunch. After a bit of lunch (ham and coleslaw sandwich and a sausage roll if you're interested), we're ready to resume...

England are still on track for a victory that will give them a 1-0 lead in this Ashes series after Moeen Ali dismissed the dangerous David Warner on the stroke of lunch.

The Australia opener had overcome a tortuous first hour to settle and take his score to 52. But he was trapped lbw after missing a straight one from Moeen, who had been brought back on for the final over before the interval after a terrible first spell.

It had threatened to be a frustrating morning for Alastair Cook’s side as Warner and Steve Smith combined to add 78 for their side’s second wicket.

Instead, Australia find themselves up against it on 97 for two, still 315 runs shy of what would be an Ashes-record run chase of 412.

England, though, will feel really should be in an even better position after brilliant early pressure from Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. Both made the new ball sing and really did deserve more luck after beating the edge on numerous occasions.

There was a dropped chance, too, in the third over from Joe Root, reprieving Chris Rogers on four as he failed to hold on after the Australia opener fended Anderson to third slip.

The breakthrough did finally come after 44 minutes, Rogers reluctant to walk after edging Broad to Ian Bell at second slip but sent on his way after TV replays confirmed the catch was good.

It left Australia 19-1, but the decision by Cook to bring on Moeen in place of Anderson from the River Taff end allowed Warner and new batsman Smith to relieve the pressure as England’s off-spinner went for 22 runs during two expensive overs.

Warner, who rode his luck early on and at one stage went 16 successive balls without scoring, combined with Smith to add 50 runs in just 40 balls as Australia made hay after Anderson and Broad were taken off.

As lunch approached that partnership was growing – as were English nerves – but despite the fact Anderson had been brought back on for two overs, this time from the Cathedral End, it was Moeen who made the crucial breakthrough to send Warner on his way.

Breakthrough for England, right on the stroke of lunch. Moeen Ali returns to the attack and traps Warner in front of his stumps. A scratchy effort from Warner has come to an end and England can feel a lot better about their lunch now. A big strike just before the break.

That will take us to LUNCH and England will feel a lot better now. A gripping morning of cricket once again in this Test. England will have some lunch and take some advice from coach Trevor Bayliss before returning in 40 minutes to have a go at Smith and Clarke.

Lovely drive straight down the ground from Smith brings him another boundary from Anderson - who has been very unfortunate not to have a wicket so far today.

Looks like we will have time for one more over before lunch...

Root coming round the wicket to Smith and packing the leg side field, trying to force the Australian No 3 back into his shell.

Warner, meanwhile, is staying leg side of the ball and keeping his options open on the off-side. Another decent over with three runs from it.

Another change of bowling as Cook turns back to his main man Anderson to try and break this partnership just before lunch.

It's a maiden from Anderson, but Warner is still flashing at the ball and playing and missing. Half a shout for a caught behind there but nobody seemed very convinced.

Change of bowling with a quarter of an hour before lunch as the man with the golden touch Joe Root comes on. He bowls to his nemesis Warner first up, but the Australian strikes a 'glancing blow' for a single to get off strike.

Three runs from the over in total as Root tosses the ball up and tries to entice an error.

Two runs from the beginning of that Stokes over plus a single from the final delivery take the danger man Warner to a half-century. It's been a determined effort from Warner without ever looking fully settled or comfortable, but he's playing an excellent hand for his team here.

Warner nudges and nurdles his way to 47 with five more runs from that over.

Paul Newman reports: 'David Warner could easily have fallen to Stuart Broad or Jimmy Anderson this morning but he survived and he is looking good now. This is a good fightback from Australia after a torrid opening 45 minutes or so and England will want another wicket before lunch or their nerves will begin to grow slightly. They must remember that Australia still have a very long way to go to get near this Ashes record breaking target.'

That's what England need to remember. Australia are going well at the moment but still have a lot of runs to get.

Over-pitched from Stokes. Full and wide and Smith helps himself to a boundary through the off side to release the pressure a little bit that Stokes and Wood had built up of late.

Half hour until lunch and England will be desparate for another breakthrough. If they don't get it, this will be Australia's session and they will have gone some way to making England sweat over this run chase. Either way, at the current rate we shouldn't be too far off a result either way by the end of today.

Warner is living very dangerously. He just got a leading edge straight through the gap in the slip cordon at waist height to pick up another boundary and move onto 42. He has played and missed at so many this morning and never looked comfortable, but credit to the fighting spirt in him for battling through.

A couple deliveries towards the end of that Wood over also popped up into the region where a short leg would have been. A good over nonetheless.

Good from Stokes - a really good maiden over. Very consistent lines and just enough in this pitch to trouble Smith, as the last delivery showed. A bit of uneven bounce saw the ball miss his bat and crash into the thigh pad.

Warner glides the ball away to the third-man fence for a boundary to bring up the 50 partnership between these two in just 40 deliveries.

Good pace and aggression from Wood, though, up at 90mph. He had a shout for lbw that didn't have a lot going for it, but was still too good for Warner.

Six runs from the over with a tickle down to square leg from the final delivery for a couple as well.

Good aggression from Stokes and a bit of variable bounce causes the ball to balloon off the surface into Smith's gloves, but he played it very well to keep the ball down rather than pop it up in the air in the gully region.

The next shot was also well played - a pull through mid-wicket for four. Good intent from these two have upped Australia's run rate to around for an over now. England not having it all their own way at the moment as they did for the first hour.

Australia, it seems, have blasted Ali out of the attack at least for now as Wood comes on to replace him.

Warner greets the fast bowler with a baseball-type swat down the ground for four. This pair have scored very quickly and just released the pressure a tad. That 17-run over from Ali had a big part to play.

Stokes with the ball in hand after the drinks break, then, and he is also right on the money first up.

Smith looking his usual frenetic self at the crease and he just managed to get a tickle on a delivery that looked very straight.

Decent start from Stokes.

That's another great first hour. Brilliant bowling from Stuart Broad. He is such a fierce competitor and I think this is the first time he's been back to his very best since that knee surgery at the end of last season. But it only brought one wicket and Moeen Ali has just gone for 17 in an over. Australia will clearly attack him but Moeen has to keep his nerve. Now we are going to see a bit of Ben Stokes.

Over-pitched from Ali and Smith crashes his away for four square on the off-side.

Warner then pounces on a short delivery by smashing it to the mid-wicket fence for a SIX.

Ali must be careful not to undo all the good work by Anderson and Broad by releasing the pressure. Three boundaries and 17 runs from the over... good counter-attack from Australia having been on the back foot all morning.

That's drinks as well. An absorbing first hour that has left me a tad thirsty too.

Broad continues into a sixth over and a massive shout for lbw as the ball crashes into the pads of Warner. No review from Cook, though, as it looks like the England captain knew Warner had got a bit of bat on that. Broad is usually keen to appeal everything, but even he wasn't calling for one there.

Warner is still there, though, and fighting on despite not being at his best and having been tied down by England all morning. He plays an misses at yet another delivery with the final ball of the over.

Change of bowling as Cook throws the ball to his spinner Moeen Ali.

Warner not in any mood to hand around against the spinner as he rushes down the track on Ali's very first delivery to hit him through the covers for four.

Plenty of revolutions on the ball from Ali, but not a huge deal of spin on offer. Ali has a big role to play today, though, and can expect a lot of overs.

A breakthrough over from Broad and it is no less than he deserved for his efforts this morning.

Steve Smith the next man in for Australia, and he is off the mark with a streaky, unconvincing edge all along the ground through the slip cordon for four.

That's unusual. A warning for Jimmy Anderson for running on the pitch. And that seemed a bit harsh from Marais Erasmus to me. England won't want him to be unsettled. But there's the breakthrough! Chris Rogers is out. No need for replays there. I always get nervous when that happens because the TV images can lie but that was clearly out. Stuart Broad has struck and Australia are one down!

GOT HIM! One down nine to go.

A big wicket as well for England to dismiss Rogers, who can hang around and frustrate. This time his edge behind off Broad is caught by Ian Bell, even if it needed the third umpire to confirm that the ball went cleanly into his hands at second slip and didn't bounce.

Smith the next man in. Broad has his reward for a brilliant opening spell this morning.

Swing for Anderson, but well played by Warner as he finally gets his first boundary of the innings with a clip off the pads through the mid-wicket region. That prompts a field change for Cook with a short mid-wicket coming in.

Anderson, meanwhile, is given a warning by Marais Erasmus for running on the pitch in his follow through.

Anderson must not get frustrated. He has bowled very well this morning and should have had a wicket but for the drop by Root in the slips. After being driven down the ground for a couple by Warner he comes round the wicket, but the Aussie opener is looking a bit more comfortable now after a nervy start.

Warner pulls a short delivery away into the leg side for a single - his second run in 24 deliveries. Incredibly low scoring rate from Warner so far today, but it's testament to the job Anderson and Broad have done in this first half hour or so. There have been no loose or bad deliveries whatsoever, everything has been spot on even with little swing on offer.

Broad beats the outside edge of the bat on the final delivery just for good measure.

Just a leg-bye in that over from Anderson as the ball ricochets off Rogers' pad behind square on the leg side. Good, probing stuff from Anderson and Broad so far, but Australia are yet to lose a wicket.

A REVIEW from England for an edge behind. Warner looked unflustered like he knew he hadn't hit it and the technology proved him correct as the ball just flicked his pad on the way through. England looked convinced it was out, but an excellent decision from umpire Dharmesena.

Paul Newman reports: 'That is a fantastic decision by Kumar Dharmasena. I was convinced that was out. There was such a big noise! I almost went up for that one in the press box. But it was bat flicking pad and David warner lives to fight another day. For now. Brilliant bowling from Stuart Broad, this.'

Brilliant bowling indeed... Warner cannot get going at the moment and he doesn't like it. Something has to give.

Huge shout for lbw from Anderson on Rogers, but it looked to be just outside the line and maybe a little bit high as well.

Rogers has had a couple of lives so far, but he also played a lovely on drive back past Anderson that raced to the boundary. COok now has a man in at short mid-on, right in Rogers' eyeline almost next to Warner at the non-striker's end.

A second straight maiden for Broad and you can see Warner itching to feel bat on ball and hit some boundaries. Once again he had a waft at a drive and completely missed.

Good start from Broad, nervy from Warner.

CHANCE - AND DROPPED! Big chance for Root at third slip. Anderson squared Rogers up and the Aussie opener and he fended off to the slips, but Root put it down. It went at a good height to his left hand side and Root got tow hands on it but couldn't cling on. That would have been a perfect start for England.

Another good over from Anderson, though, this time from round the wicket and angling into the left handers.

Paul Newman reports: 'Early drama! Joe Root would have expected to take that catch and that would have been the perfect start for England. The catching has been so good in this match and perhaps that's a sign of nerves. But Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad have been right on the money here this morning and I'm sure more chances will be coming England's way soon.'

Broad takes the new ball from the other end bowling to Warner - a battle of the two pantomime villains.

Warner shows his intent from the very first ball as he swings and misses at a full, wide delivery.

Warner is not the type to hang around, if he is there at lunchtime then Australia will have scored a fair few runs this morning. In a big chase like this, a player like Warner can make such a difference. It happened to England a few years back in India, when the hosts were set 387 to win and some quick runs from Virender Sehwag up front set up an easy run chase for the likes of Sachin on day five.

That being said, Broad bowls a maiden.

Anderson right on the money straight away and looking sharp, while Rogers is looking as busy and frenetic as usual.

A tight first over from England's spearhead right up until the final delivery, which strayed onto the pads and was clipped to the square leg boundary by Rogers.

Plenty of Australia fans in here as well, and they clearly believe their team can still win this.

The five-minute bell has just been rang as Jerusalem rings around the Swalec Stadium. The sun is out and the crowd are pouring in. A great sense of occasion and expectation this morning. It could be quite a special Saturday for English cricket if they manage to wrap up victory in this first Test.

Alastair Cook leads England down the steps and onto the field past the England flags being waved by youngsters and to cheers from the local crowd.

Just behind them are Chris Rogers and David Warner to open the innings for Australia. They have a massive job on this morning to keep Anderson and Broad at bay and set up a shot at this unlikely run chase.

Anderson has the ball in hand, Rogers takes guard... and we're READY FOR PLAY on day four!

Good morning from Cardiff where we are poised for a highly significant day in this Ashes series. Surely this extraordinary, high octane Test will finish today. And surely England will win it. Australia cannot score 412 to win, can they?

All logic suggests they can't. But then since when did logic play a part in the incredible developments in world cricket in the last year or so. The game has changed and nothing is impossible now. Having said that, this pitch is showing signs of wear and tear and it would take something extra-special from Australia to deny England now.

And do you know what? If they do then you can only hold your hands up because they will have deserved it and the game will have been the winner. Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad were sensational with the second new ball yesterday. England will want them to make early inroads today to settle their nerves. Hold on to your hats. Here we go.

Adam Voges speaking to Michael Atherton from Sky Sports a few moments ago, and he has enjoyed his Ashes debut so far even if Australia have been outplayed:

'It's been a great three days so far. We have been outplayed to be fair but we have got an opportunity today to hopefully bat well.

'It's going to be a big ask, there's no doubt about that. There's plenty of optimism in our changing room and the pitch is still good.'

A chance of a shower later today and much cooler than yesterday, but generally another fine day expected.

England will want to get things done today looking at tomorrow's forecast. Let's worry about that later...

Lawrence Booth in Cardiff: Sometimes, the devil really can be in the detail. And, after three days of this Cardiff Test, the details do not look good for Australia.

This is curious, since the bigger picture going into this series left little room for doubt. All they needed to do to retain the Ashes was lie back, close their eyes and think of 2013-14. The rest would follow as smoothly as the Taff flows behind the Swalec Stadium.

The problem, so far at least, is that England have refused to do the same. If the best sporting scripts are the least expected, 2015 is shaping up promisingly.

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Lawrence Booth in Cardiff:  Ian Bell backed England to complete the job in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff after Australia were set an imposing 412 for victory – six runs short of the Test record.

Bell made an attractive 60 as England raced along at 4.11 an over to make 289 in their second innings after their bowlers had earned them a crucial lead of 122.

'The first three days have given us a lot of belief,' he said. 'It's been brilliant. We have to make sure tomorrow is exactly the same.'

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Report by Paul Newman in Cardiff: England will push for the most thrilling and unexpected of victories in this extraordinary first Test on Saturday after a helter-skelter third day of a captivating series ended with Australia facing a record breaking Ashes run-chase.

When Jimmy Anderson was bowled trying to hit Nathan Lyon into Cardiff city centre in the last over of a quite incredible day, 15 wickets had fallen and 333 runs had been scored in three sessions of thoroughly modern Test cricket.

It left Australia needing 412 to win, eight more than any side has ever scored to win an Ashes Test, but with two whole days of this frantic contest to get them after seven English wickets were sent tumbling in the final session.

History and all cricketing logic tells you it would take a miracle for Australia to win this first Investec Test, particularly as this dry pitch should provide more uneven bounce and significantly more turn from now on.

Yet cricket is changing so rapidly and becoming ever more unpredictable as the rules are being re-written seemingly by the day. Frankly, nothing can be ruled out, and the only certainty is that it will again be richly entertaining.

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Even by the exalted standards of the Ashes, it would be quite extraordinary.

If Australia were to chase down the 412 runs they have been set by England and win this first Test, they would be thoroughly deserving of their place in history.

It would be a record chase for an Ashes Test but then records are there to be broken and in these heady times for cricket, when the rules seem to be rewritten on a weekly basis, it simply can't be ruled out.

But surely they can't? Surely it is a foregone conclusion that England have the firepower to take those 10 Aussie wickets over the next two days? 

They have manoeuvred themselves into such a strong position that to lose it now would be a devastating blow. The momentum is very much in their favour, a 1-0 series lead is within touching distance.

Welcome along to our live over-by-over coverage of the fourth day of the first Investec Ashes Test in Cardiff. Drama is assured.