Ashes 2015 live: Centurion Joe Root excels but Australia hit England with late sucker punch on first day in Cardiff

The latest score and happenings between England and Australia

England vs Australia live (Getty Images)

Welcome to our live coverage of The Ashes 2015 as England take on Australia in the first Test at Cardiff.

• Captains pledge to be true to their word and not cross line in
• Moeen's bowling must improve if he wants to keep his Test place, says Gower
• Damien Martyn: These tours are special as the hours on a bus build team spirit
• Ashes 2015 - Matt Prior column: England can have a special summer
• Angus Fraser's top 10 moments from previous series'
• Ashes: Full dates of every Test

Latest:

• Lyth caught off Hazlewood for 6
• Cook caught off Lyon for 20
• Bell comes and goes for 1 as Starc gets him lbw

Follow the live action below...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load...

England fans have been given some hope before things begin after seeing a rejuvenated side draw the two-Test series with New Zealand and win the one-day series 3-2 and triumph in the sole Twenty20 encounter.

Yet when they face Australia in the first Test, England will stare in the eye many of the side that handed them a humiliating 5-0 whitewash in the last Ashes series in 2013/14. England have not lost on home soil since 2001, and they'll be desperate to get their hands back on the Urn that they lost last time out.

DATES AND VENUES...

July 8-12 (11am): First Investec Test, SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff

July 16-20 (11am): Second Investec Test, Lord's

July 29-August 2 (11am): Third Investec Test, Edgbaston

August 6-10 (11am): Fourth Investec Test, Trent Bridge

August 20-24 (11am): Fifth Investec Test, Kia Oval