"How England needed Root, with Starc's latest sublime figures of six for 71, plus some more self-inflicted wounds, threatening to derail their Ashes moonshot inside three days. By stumps they had reached 325 for nine from 74 overs with Root 135 not out a foothold in the match and a pushback more broadly after 11 days of being tarred and feathered since Perth."
"That foothold owed plenty to an unbroken 10th wicket stand worth 61 runs that saw Jofra Archer crash two sixes and a four to reach 31 not out. And with this a day that had begun with the latest new ball rampage from Starc and a sense of overwhelming English dread ended with the Barmy Army in full voice and a very different complexion overall."
An intense opening day at the Gabba featured oppressive humidity and a pink ball that swung for Mitchell Starc. Starc produced sublime figures of six for 71 as England came under relentless pressure early on. Joe Root reached his 40th Test century and his first in Australia, finishing 135 not out to provide a pivotal foothold. England were 325 for nine off 74 overs by stumps, buoyed by an unbroken 10th-wicket stand of 61 in which Jofra Archer made 31 not out with two sixes. The Barmy Army regained voice and the match complexion shifted after earlier English dread.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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