Ashes Cricket 2023: Root Scores First Century in Australia While Starc Dominates with Late Wickets
In a thrilling day of Test cricket, Joe Root celebrated a significant milestone by scoring his first century in Australia during the ongoing Ashes series. The match took place at the Gabba, where England faced a challenging Australian bowling attack.
Joe Root’s Milestone Century
Root’s innings was a blend of technical skill and tenacity, allowing him to achieve a total of 135 runs not out. This marks his 40th Test century and holds special significance, given the pressure he faced leading up to this series.
Former cricket players, including Michael Vaughan, praised Root for his performance. Vaughan highlighted that Root’s century was crucial for England’s competitiveness in the series.
Expert Commentary
Cricket analyst Jonathan Agnew described Root’s century as a ‘superb’ effort, considering the scrutiny he was under from Australian players. Agnew noted Root’s approach, especially his careful shot selection, which helped him stabilize the innings.
Other Key Performers
- Zak Crawley contributed a solid 76 runs, bouncing back from a difficult previous match.
- Jofra Archer partnered with Root for an impressive 61-run stand for the 10th wicket, making it the third highest in the Gabba’s history.
Mitchell Starc’s Bowling Prowess
On the Australian side, Mitchell Starc emerged as a key bowler. Having taken ten wickets in the previous match at Perth, he added six wickets to his tally on this day. Starc’s performance kept Australia’s hopes alive despite Root’s commanding innings.
Match Overview
At the end of day one, England concluded their innings at 325 for 9. This achievement endowed them a slight advantage in the match. As the pitch showed signs of becoming easier to bat on, the English batsmen remained cautious.
Looking Ahead
As the series progresses, the anticipation will build around whether Root can continue his form and help lead England to a series victory down under. Meanwhile, Australia will seek to regroup and regain momentum with Starc leading the attack.
