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The Ashes

Ricky Ponting rues first-innings deficit as England win first Test

By , Reporter
England's first-innings advantage was the key reason they won the first Ashes Test, claims ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

Former captain Ricky Ponting has conceded that Australia failed to recover from a poor start in the first Ashes Test of the summer against England.

The hosts bowled Australia out for 242 in the second innings to claim a 169-run victory in Cardiff, and Ponting believes that their first-innings advantage proved to be the difference.

He told Sky Sports News: "Their inability to bounce back from a little hiccup in the game cost them. England got on top early in the game, Joe Root played a sensational innings, and Australia weren't able to wrestle back the initiative from there.

"They weren't able to get the big partnerships that England got in their innings and I think we all knew that when there was a first-innings deficit that Australia would find it hard to win from there."

The second Test starts at Lord's on Thursday.

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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
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