Joe Root finally made a century in Australia to keep England afloat on a fascinating first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.
With day and night conditions fueling the drama, Root, who took two, tickled Scott Boland with four to reach three figures in Australia in the 30th attempt.
This sparked delirious celebrations in the noisy England support corner at the Gabba, as Root simply removed his helmet and shrugged towards the visitors’ dugout.
Even though Mitchell Starc bowled England out once again for 6-71, Root reached 135 not out, adding an unbroken 61 in a riotous last-wicket tussle with Jofra Archer, to lift the tourists to 325-9.
Root arrived in daylight, just 15 balls into the match, as England threatened to implode to level their first Test defeat at 5-2.
Starc was electric and took both wickets with his first nine balls. The left-arm spinner remained a threat all day, leading the attack as Australia again were without captain Pat Cummins and leaving out bowler Nathan Lyon in a home Test for the first time since 2012.
Root rebuilt a stand of 117 with Zak Crawley, the opener impressive for his much-needed 76. Root also added 54 with Harry Brook, whose inexplicably weak shot off Starc’s second ball in the twilight made much of England’s day a struggle.
England had to fight under the lights. Ben Stokes took 49 balls on 19 before running out asking Root for a non-existent single. When Jamie Smith was bowled by Boland for England’s third duck of the day, the tourists were reeling again at 211-6.
Will Jacks steadied himself with Root, only to chase down Starc when Root was on 98. In the next over, amid almost unbearable tension, Root finally had his Australian moment.
There was still time for Root and Archer to flay Australia’s tired attack in 44 balls of chaos before the close. Archer is 32 years old and not out of 26 deliveries.
Archer hit two sixes, while Root celebrated his ton with a trademark backhander from Boland for a maximum of his own. It was tremendous fun at the end of a stressful day.
