Root hits 40th Test century and first in Australia - day one report
Starc picks up another six wickets with pink ball
Duckett (0) caught at first slip in opening over; Pope chops on
Second Test, day one, Brisbane
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Australia have panicked here about a declaration that was never going to happen and given us an extra 50 runs without much risk
Ryan, Warrington
England have outbluffed Australia here. Get all the boys in their whites making them think we're declaring, they push the field back, easy runs!
Jon O, Lancing
Joe Root takes a brief moment to acknowledge the England fans at the Gabba, raising his bat to their acclaim as he walks off with sweat dripping off him.
A superb knock.
Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
The temptation must have been there for Ben Stokes to declare, but this little gamble has paid off.
Jofra Archer digs out a full delivery from Michael Neser to round off the day.
Several of Australia's players come to shake Joe Root's hand as he walks off.
The travelling England fans are on their feet cheering. Joe Root and Jofra Archer have put on 60 here which is now England's highest 10th-wicket stand at the Gabba in Ashes Test.
Three singles off Michael Neser. Two balls to survive.
WinViz has England in the driving seat...
Image source, CricvizMitchell Starc looks a little more grumpy now as he trudges down to the boundary after finishing his work for the day.
He's grimacing and limping a little. Hard graft, fast bowling.
Michael Neser will bowl the final over of the day.
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We'll talk about this Jofra Archer century for years to come...
Rob, Essex
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special
England are batting to get to the end of play, then they'll come out tomorrow morning and see what happens.
Jofra Archer deftly guides Mitchell Starc through point to move on to 31, which is now his top score in Test cricket.
A reminder play will finish at 11:30 GMT.
With the field back now, England want to get through to the close here to ensure Australia have to take the field again tomorrow. Sensible cricket as they knock it in the gaps.
Mitchell Starc wearily pushes himself another over.
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Jofra Archer has scored more than the four batters before him! He wants to be careful he will be opening the second innings at this rate.
Bob, Tyne & Wear
Archer to bat at No.3 in the next innings?
Andrew Tulett, Chichester
A nice square drive from Jofra Archer off Scott Boland keeps the scoreboard ticking over.
Archer is on 29 and needs two more runs to eclipse his Test-best score.
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Trying to explain to my Y8 students how massive that century for Root is! Pause the history lesson and lets talk about the BEST. (Secretly refreshing TMS on BBC sport webpage whilst teaching this morning)
Joseph Bent, Derbyshire
Srinivas Vijaykumar
CricViz analyst
Exceptional innings from Joe Root to get to that elusive century in Australia. One of the standout features of Root's hundred has been how much forward he's looked to play compared to his previous innings in Australia. Across this innings he's played the seamers, 1.87m from the stumps. Of all the Test innings in Australia (where he's faced 20+ more balls v pace) only once has he played further down the wicket (50 at the MCG in 2021).
Across this series, Root has made a consistent attempt to play further down the wicket compared to his previous stints in Australia, curbing his natural game to play it as late as possible. In Ashes Test in England, Root's average interception point is 1.73m.
Joe Root - Average Interception Point v Pace in Australia
2025/26 - 1.87m
2021/22 - 1.82m
2017/18 - 1.71m
2013/14 - 1.81m
Jofra Archer skips down the pitch to Scott Boland but cloths a drive to mid-off. There's no fielder in the vicinity and the ball plops safely into the turf at the Gabba.
Next ball, Joe Root reverse sweeps Boland for six!
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator
Suddenly, some resistance from England at the end of the day's play.
Image source, Getty ImagesA useful cameo from Jofra Archer who has 27 off 17 balls.
This last-wicket partnership is now worth 43 runs, coming off 26 balls.
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special
That again was a half-volley from Joe Root. Australia have not bowled well to finish off the innings.
Andy Zaltzman
Test Match Special statistician
England have 31 runs off the last 10 balls.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crawley,caught Carey, bowled Neser Crawley, caught Carey, bowled Neser | 76 | 93 | 58 | 11 | 0 | 138 | 81.72 |
Duckett,caught Labuschagne, bowled Starc Duckett, caught Labuschagne, bowled Starc | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.00 |
Pope,bowled Starc Pope, bowled Starc | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.00 |
Root,not out Root, not out | 138 | 206 | 131 | 15 | 1 | 379 | 66.99 |
Brook,caught Smith, bowled Starc Brook, caught Smith, bowled Starc | 31 | 33 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 93.94 |
Stokes,run out Inglis Stokes, run out Inglis | 19 | 49 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 76 | 38.78 |
Smith,bowled Boland Smith, bowled Boland | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
Jacks,caught Smith, bowled Starc Jacks, caught Smith, bowled Starc | 19 | 31 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 61.29 |
Atkinson,caught Carey, bowled Starc Atkinson, caught Carey, bowled Starc | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 133.33 |
Carse,caught Carey, bowled Starc Carse, caught Carey, bowled Starc | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
Archer,caught Labuschagne, bowled Doggett Archer, caught Labuschagne, bowled Doggett | 38 | 36 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 54 | 105.56 |
Extras, no balls 1, wides 3, byes 4, leg byes 1, total 9 Extras, no balls 1, wides 3, byes 4, leg byes 1, total 9 | |||||||
Total,334 all out 76.2 overs Total,334 all out 76.2 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starc | 20.0 | 0 | 75 | 6 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3.75 |
Neser | 14.0 | 3 | 43 | 1 | 61 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3.07 |
Boland | 19.0 | 1 | 87 | 1 | 77 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 4.57 |
Doggett | 15.2 | 1 | 81 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5.28 |
Green | 8.0 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5.37 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
5 for 1 (0.6 overs) | Duckett |
5 for 2 (2.3 overs) | Pope |
122 for 3 (27.5 overs) | Crawley |
176 for 4 (39.2 overs) | Brook |
210 for 5 (54.6 overs) | Stokes |
211 for 6 (55.3 overs) | Smith |
251 for 7 (64.5 overs) | Jacks |
264 for 8 (66.2 overs) | Atkinson |
264 for 9 (66.4 overs) | Carse |
334 for 10 (76.2 overs) | Archer |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head,caught Atkinson, bowled Carse Head, caught Atkinson, bowled Carse | 33 | 43 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 59 | 76.74 |
Weatherald,leg before wicket, bowled Archer Weatherald, leg before wicket, bowled Archer | 72 | 78 | 48 | 12 | 1 | 121 | 92.31 |
Labuschagne,caught Smith, bowled Stokes Labuschagne, caught Smith, bowled Stokes | 65 | 78 | 52 | 9 | 1 | 116 | 83.33 |
Smith,caught Jacks, bowled Carse Smith, caught Jacks, bowled Carse | 61 | 85 | 59 | 5 | 2 | 157 | 71.76 |
Green,bowled Carse Green, bowled Carse | 45 | 57 | 37 | 7 | 0 | 97 | 78.95 |
Carey,caught Smith, bowled Atkinson Carey, caught Smith, bowled Atkinson | 63 | 69 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 128 | 91.30 |
Inglis,bowled Stokes Inglis, bowled Stokes | 23 | 25 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 92.00 |
Neser,caught Smith, bowled Stokes Neser, caught Smith, bowled Stokes | 16 | 41 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 39.02 |
Starc,caught Stokes, bowled Carse Starc, caught Stokes, bowled Carse | 77 | 141 | 106 | 13 | 0 | 154 | 54.61 |
Boland,not out Boland, not out | 21 | 72 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 152 | 29.17 |
Doggett,caught Brook, bowled Jacks Doggett, caught Brook, bowled Jacks | 13 | 21 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 61.90 |
Extras, no balls 5, wides 6, byes 4, leg byes 7, total 22 Extras, no balls 5, wides 6, byes 4, leg byes 7, total 22 | |||||||
Total,511 all out 117.3 overs Total,511 all out 117.3 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archer | 25.0 | 3 | 87 | 1 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 3.48 |
Atkinson | 28.0 | 6 | 114 | 1 | 120 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 4.07 |
Carse | 29.0 | 3 | 152 | 4 | 115 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 5.24 |
Stokes | 24.0 | 0 | 113 | 3 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 4.70 |
Jacks | 11.3 | 2 | 34 | 1 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2.95 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
77 for 1 (13.1 overs) | Head |
146 for 2 (25.5 overs) | Weatherald |
196 for 3 (37.1 overs) | Labuschagne |
291 for 4 (56.1 overs) | Green |
292 for 5 (56.4 overs) | Smith |
329 for 6 (63.5 overs) | Inglis |
383 for 7 (75.6 overs) | Neser |
416 for 8 (82.6 overs) | Carey |
491 for 9 (110.2 overs) | Starc |
511 for 10 (117.3 overs) | Doggett |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crawley,caught and bowled Neser Crawley, caught and bowled Neser | 44 | 59 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 104 | 74.58 |
Duckett,bowled Boland Duckett, bowled Boland | 15 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 83.33 |
Pope,caught and bowled Neser Pope, caught and bowled Neser | 26 | 32 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 81.25 |
Root,caught Carey, bowled Starc Root, caught Carey, bowled Starc | 15 | 36 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 41.67 |
Brook,caught Carey, bowled Boland Brook, caught Carey, bowled Boland | 15 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 71.43 |
Stokes,caught Carey, bowled Neser Stokes, caught Carey, bowled Neser | 50 | 152 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 229 | 32.89 |
Smith,caught Carey, bowled Starc Smith, caught Carey, bowled Starc | 4 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 36.36 |
Jacks,caught Smith, bowled Neser Jacks, caught Smith, bowled Neser | 41 | 92 | 59 | 2 | 0 | 183 | 44.57 |
Atkinson,caught Smith, bowled Doggett Atkinson, caught Smith, bowled Doggett | 3 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 23.08 |
Carse,caught Smith, bowled Neser Carse, caught Smith, bowled Neser | 7 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 70.00 |
Archer,not out Archer, not out | 5 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 55.56 |
Extras, no balls 1, wides 2, byes 8, leg byes 5, total 16 Extras, no balls 1, wides 2, byes 8, leg byes 5, total 16 | |||||||
Total,241 all out 75.2 overs Total,241 all out 75.2 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starc | 18.0 | 2 | 64 | 2 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3.55 |
Neser | 16.2 | 2 | 42 | 5 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.57 |
Doggett | 17.0 | 2 | 56 | 1 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3.29 |
Boland | 17.0 | 4 | 47 | 2 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2.76 |
Green | 5.0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
Head | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Labuschagne | 1.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
48 for 1 (7.4 overs) | Duckett |
90 for 2 (17.1 overs) | Pope |
97 for 3 (21.2 overs) | Crawley |
121 for 4 (26.3 overs) | Root |
123 for 5 (29.3 overs) | Brook |
128 for 6 (32.3 overs) | Smith |
224 for 7 (69.1 overs) | Jacks |
227 for 8 (71.5 overs) | Stokes |
231 for 9 (72.3 overs) | Atkinson |
241 for 10 (75.2 overs) | Carse |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head,bowled Atkinson Head, bowled Atkinson | 22 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 100.00 |
Weatherald,not out Weatherald, not out | 17 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 73.91 |
Labuschagne,caught Smith, bowled Atkinson Labuschagne, caught Smith, bowled Atkinson | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 50.00 |
Smith,not out Smith, not out | 23 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 255.56 |
Extras, no balls 0, wides 0, byes 4, leg byes 0, total 4 Extras, no balls 0, wides 0, byes 4, leg byes 0, total 4 | |||||||
Total,69 for 2 10.0 overs Total,69 for 2 10.0 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archer | 5.0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5.60 |
Atkinson | 5.0 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7.40 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
37 for 1 (5.5 overs) | Head |
41 for 2 (7.3 overs) | Labuschagne |