Joe Root finally achieved his first Test century in Australia on his fourth Ashes tour, guiding England from a perilous 5-2 to 325-9 at stumps on the first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. Root’s masterful 135 not out dominated the day’s play, silencing critics who doubted his ability to deliver a century Down Under, while number 11 Jofra Archer added late fireworks with an unbeaten 32 off 26 balls, including two towering sixes. Their unbroken 10th-wicket stand of 61 set a new record for England at the Gabba.
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Australia’s Mitchell Starc, meanwhile, made history by becoming the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket, claiming 6-71 and surpassing Pakistan great Wasim Akram with 418 Test wickets. Starc’s lethal opening burst removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in consecutive overs, reducing England to 5-2 and putting early pressure on the visitors. Despite the threat, Root and Zak Crawley (76) rebuilt England’s innings with a 117-run partnership, providing crucial stability.
Root came to the crease in the third over with the pink ball swinging and immediately set about countering the Australian attack. He reached his century with a leg glance off Scott Boland and shared key partnerships with Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Will Jacks to ensure England remained competitive. England’s innings saw further wickets fall quickly to Starc under the lights, but the tail-end resistance from Archer and Root rescued the team from collapse.
Archer’s fearless batting thrilled fans as he hit two massive sixes, complementing Root’s inventive strokeplay, including a reverse scoop over third man. England’s lower order display provided hope for a challenging Test, showcasing resilience against a dominant Australian attack that had easily won the first Test in Perth inside two days.
The match also saw Australia make a surprise change, leaving out off-spinner Nathan Lyon for seamer Michael Neser, marking the first home Test in almost 14 years without a frontline spinner. Both teams wore black armbands in tribute to former England batsman Robin Smith, who passed away unexpectedly earlier in the week.
England’s recovery from 5-2 to 325-9 demonstrated grit and determination, with Root’s brilliance and Archer’s aggressive counterattacks stealing the spotlight. Meanwhile, Starc’s historic six-wicket haul emphasized Australia’s continued bowling dominance. The stage is set for a thrilling contest as both sides prepare for the second day at the Gabba, with England determined to fight back in this fiercely contested Ashes series.
