Joe Root finally broke his long Australian drought with a finely crafted unbeaten 135 as England battled their way to 325 for 9 on the opening day of the pink-ball Test at the Gabba.
The innings was anything but smooth, swinging between collapse and control under Brisbane’s demanding conditions.
England’s start suggested another nightmare was unfolding when Mitchell Starc struck twice inside the first 15 balls, removing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks.
Zak Crawley and Root then stitched together a crucial recovery, adding a fluent third-wicket stand. Crawley’s positive 76 injected momentum, while Root anchored the innings with trademark patience.
The middle order failed to capitalize as England slipped again under the lights, losing five wickets for 54 runs in a nervy phase that handed control back to Australia.
Starc was relentless with the pink ball, finishing with superb figures of 6 for 71 and surpassing Wasim Akram’s record for most Test wickets by a left-arm quick.
Just as England looked set for a sub-300 total, Root found an unlikely ally in Jofra Archer. The pair added an unbeaten 61 for the final wicket, frustrating a tiring Australian attack and pushing England beyond 300 for the first time in an Ashes Test Down Under since 2018.
Australia now faces early pressure on a surface that still promises movement, setting up an intriguing second day.