Joe Root’s Century in Australia Boosts England’s Advantage as Mitchell Starc Surpasses Wasim Akram

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Joe Root’s Century in Australia Boosts England’s Advantage as Mitchell Starc Surpasses Wasim Akram

England gained a significant advantage on the opening day of the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Joe Root made headlines by scoring his first century in Australia, finishing the day unbeaten on 135 runs off 202 balls. England ended the first day at 325 for nine, after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Key Performances

Root’s century came during challenging circumstances. After a disastrous start where England found themselves at just five for two, Root formed crucial partnerships to stabilize the innings. Zak Crawley contributed a vital 76 runs, forming a 117-run partnership with Root.

Joe Root: 135* runs off 202 balls
Zak Crawley: 76 runs
Jofra Archer: 32* runs (final partnership of 61 runs for the last wicket)

Mitchell Starc’s Milestone

Despite England’s solid performances, Mitchell Starc from Australia stole the spotlight with a six-wicket haul. He concluded the day with figures of 6 for 71, surpassing Wasim Akram to become the most successful left-arm seamer in Test history with a total of 415 wickets.

Starc’s achievement brought him accolades, emphasizing Akram’s status as one of the best bowlers. “Wasim is still up there as one of the best ever with the ball,” Starc acknowledged.

First Day Summary

England’s innings progressed steadily. After a hot afternoon, they reached 98 for two at tea and later 196 for four at dinner. However, Starc’s dismissal of Harry Brook at 31 marked a turning point in the match.

Australia surprised fans by dropping Nathan Lyon for the first home Test since 2012, opting for a seam-heavy attack with Michael Neser. They also made a change in their batting lineup due to Usman Khawaja’s injury, with Travis Head stepping in as opener following his recent impressive performance.

Looking Ahead

The series currently stands at 1-0 in favor of Australia. They have not lost to England at the Gabba since 1986, making the stakes even higher for the tourists. England will be eager to build on their performance as they aim to regain control in this five-Test series.