Root’s ton of courage, late Archer burst carry England to safety on day one

Ever since Joe Root drove Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla through cover for three runs on Test debut 13 years ago, there was one run the England maestro never had that quietly ate away at him.

The 100th of a Test innings against Australia. In Australia.

Joe Root celebrates his century – his first in an Ashes test on Australian soil.Credit: Getty Images

Though he had compiled 13,551 runs before this match – the second most in Test history – arriving at the Gabba on Thursday with no centuries in an away Ashes series remained a point of ridicule for Root among Australian fans, who have been quick to remind the 34-year-old he “can’t do it here”.

At 8.38pm Brisbane time, with England doing it relatively easy at 7-252 in their best batting display of the series, Root ticked off his 999th, 1000th, 1001st and 1002nd Test runs in Australia with a stylish glance down to fine leg for four to tick off a personal milestone that had been on everyone’s lips this summer.

Matthew Hayden jokingly threatened to run naked across the MCG if Root didn’t reach three figures this summer. For the good of everyone, that is now officially off the table after Root ended the day unbeaten on 135 having steered England to safety at 9-325 by stumps – aided by an entertaining cameo from No.11 Jofra Archer (32 off 26).

Their 61-run 10th wicket partnership off just 44 balls was a heavy blow to Australia’s momentum.

Joe Root shrugs towards the England dressing room after reaching triple figures.Credit: AP

Mitchell Starc’s outstanding start to the Ashes continued with figures of 6-71 off 19 overs and the distinction of becoming the most prolific left-arm fast bowler in Test history, trumping Wasim Akram’s long-standing tally of 415 wickets.

Starc backed up his 10-wicket haul in the first Test with more first-over brilliance on Thursday to remove Ben Duckett for a golden duck, but a century stand from Zak Crawley and Root dragged England away from first day humiliation after winning the toss and batting at the Gabba.

Australia lacked variety without the spin of Nathan Lyon as England batted more overs on one day in Brisbane than they did in an entire Test in Perth.

Root has been getting peppered everywhere he goes about his failure to take off his helmet in Australia. By the time he did, with a little kiss on the badge, a shrug back towards the dressing room was an understated celebration for a player who will now finally get the credit he deserves in Australia.

The likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Lyon have long had Root’s measure in Australia, but none had the pink ball on an opening night at the Gabba, where England relied on their most dangerous weapon more than ever. Without Root, the tourists would have been in dire straits.

In his 30th Test innings on Australian soil – having reached 50 nine times with a previous best of 89 – Root broke the shackles some 4396 days after his first attempt 16 Tests ago. His hundred would not have come had Steve Smith not grassed a tough diving chance at second slip when Root was on two.

After a rotten run, he was entitled to a slice of luck.

Starc’s record of taking wickets in the first over has long been formidable, but he has taken it to another level in recent months. Ben Duckett became the left-armer’s latest early casualty, edging to Marnus Labuschagne at first slip to depart for a golden duck.

Mitchell Starc was again the pick of Australia’s bowlers, collecting six wickets on day one.Credit: Getty Images

It was a dent on the scoreboard and another psychological blow, much to the delight of a heaving Gabba crowd of 37,117 fans.

From Australia’s final Test of the Caribbean tour in Kingston – when the West Indies were skittled for 27 – to Thursday in Brisbane, Starc has taken 6-5 across his four first overs of each innings.

It was the 26th time in his career Starc has struck in the first over of a Test innings – seven more than England’s Jimmy Anderson, and well ahead of Kemar Roach (10). It was also the third time from three innings this series Starc has landed a blow in the first over of this series.

At 2-5, England’s decision to bat first looked to have backfired, with No.3 Ollie Pope bowled dragging Starc onto his stumps – a dismissal that undercut his vow earlier in the week to shelve loose shots outside off stump.

Shortly after, Starc removed Harry Brook for 31 to edge ahead of Akram and into 16th on the all-time list of all bowlers. In terms of all fast bowlers, Starc is ninth on the list.

Asked by Michael Vaughan how he felt after becoming the most prolific left-arm wicket taker in Test history, Starc said: “Tired. I’ll reflect on it later but Wasim’s still the pinnacle and up there with the best ever.

“It was a good day’s cricket. Joe [Root]’s batted well. It’s pretty tough once that ball goes soft.”

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So alarming was England’s start that Vaughan asked on air if there were any curtains available at the Gabba, so he didn’t have to watch as Australia twisted the knife in early.

Root and Crawley wrestled back momentum before the latter perished on 76 from 93 balls in the 28th over when he under-edged a Neser delivery through to Carey.

The pair’s 117-run third wicket partnership was England’s highest of the series so far. Root was steady and Crawley more expansive, driving when possible and scoring freely square of the wicket.

Crawley rode his luck, though, with replays showing he may have edged one behind on 15 – it was not reviewed by Australia – while Boland put down a tough caught-and-bowled chance when the opener was on 39.

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