Rogers holds firm

Chris Rogers joined a select group of players with a seventh successive Test fifty as Australia made inroads into England’s first innings total on the second day of the Ashes opener in Cardiff on Thursday.

At tea, Australia were 145 for two in reply to England’s 430, a deficit of 285 runs. Veteran opener Rogers was 74 not out and Australia captain Michael Clarke 11 not out.

Rogers missed Australia’s 2-0 series win in the Caribbean with Caribbean and the 37-year-old left-hander has said the Ashes will be his final Test campaign before retirement. Shortly after lunch, England dismissed Australia dangerman David Warner for 17 when the left-handed opener got a thick edge off James Anderson and England captain Alastair Cook held a sharp catch at first slip. Cook, however, left the field minutes later when an edge from Smith dropped short and struck him a painful blow in the groin.