AUS vs ENG highlights, 2nd Ashes Test Day 1: Joe Root breaks Aussie drought with first ton; England 325/9 at stumps in Brisbane

AUS vs ENG highlights, 2nd Ashes Test Day 1: Joe Root finally registered his maiden Test century in Australia on his fourth Ashes tour, steering England from a perilous 5/2 to 325/9 at stumps after a gripping opening day of the second Test in Brisbane on Thursday.

Mitchell Starc claimed 6/71 — a spell that made him the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket — but Root dominated the day-night encounter with a sublime unbeaten 135.

No. 11 Jofra Archer added late fireworks, blasting a career-best 32* off 26 balls, including two sixes, to delight England’s travelling supporters. His unbeaten 61-run stand with Root was England’s highest 10th-wicket partnership at the Gabba.

Root, the world’s top-ranked batter and second on the all-time Test runs list behind Sachin Tendulkar, had never reached three figures in Australia despite three previous Ashes tours. On Thursday, he buried that narrative. Walking in during the third over with Starc swinging the pink ball under lights, he produced a near-flawless innings and reached his century with a gentle leg glance off Scott Boland.

Starc’s six wickets pushed his tally to 418, overtaking Wasim Akram’s 414.
“Wasim’s still the pinnacle. I think he’s still better than me,” Starc said after achieving the milestone.

The left-armer struck immediately, removing Ben Duckett in his first over and Ollie Pope in his second to leave England reeling. But unlike their collapse in Perth, England fought back through a crucial 117-run stand between Root and Zak Crawley, who made a composed 76.

08:47 (IST) Dec 04

Ashes Live Score: Gabba fortress awaits as England persist with Bazball

England head into the Gabba knowing it has been a graveyard for visiting teams. Australia boast a near-unbeatable day-night record, with only one defeat — a shock eight-run loss to West Indies last year — coming at this very ground.

England haven’t won an Ashes Test at the venue since 1986 and have not won any Test in Australia since the 2010-11 series, increasing pressure on Ben Stokes’ side to adapt their aggressive tactics.

Despite heavy criticism following their collapse in Perth, England are set to persist with Bazball.

Smith contrasted England’s approach with Australia’s, calling their philosophy “adapting to conditions and what’s in front of us.” He believes playing in “real time” gives Australia an edge under the pink ball.

With changing light, unfamiliar glare, and a fired-up home crowd, England’s strategy will be tested in one of cricket’s toughest environments.

08:46 (IST) Dec 04

ENG vs AUS, 2nd Test Match Live Score: Selection dilemma as Australia sweats on Cummins

Australia have delayed announcing their XI for the second Test, with one forced change confirmed after Usman Khawaja was ruled out due to back issues. Travis Head is expected to continue as opener following his match-winning century in Perth, while Josh Inglis could return in the middle order.

The bigger mystery surrounds Pat Cummins, who was not originally selected for the match due to a back injury, but trained impressively and joined Steve Smith for a pitch inspection. Smith remained cautious when asked if the captain could return, saying Cummins “knows his body well” and is “tracking really nicely,” but a final call will be made at the toss.

The uncertainty leaves speculation swirling, though Smith appeared comfortable with Australia’s options regardless of Cummins’ availability. The hosts enter confident after an eight-wicket win to go 1-0 up in the series.

08:45 (IST) Dec 04

AUS vs ENG Live Score: Smith embraces ‘Chanderpaul look’ to battle pink-ball glare

Steve Smith will sport black eye strips in the second day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba, after finally figuring out he’d been wearing them upside down. Inspired by West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Smith turned to him for advice, asking whether chalk or strips were best for reducing glare.

Chanderpaul recommended the strips, claiming they block “65% of the glare,” but also pointed out that Smith had applied them incorrectly.

“He said I’ve seen photos and you’re wearing them the wrong way,” Smith revealed. After testing them the right way during training, Smith was convinced. “I agree. It certainly stops the glare and I’ll be wearing them.”

The eye strips are part of his attempt to deal with changing light conditions under the pink ball, as Australia prepare for England’s aggressive Bazball approach after their two-day victory in Perth.

08:43 (IST) Dec 04

Ashes Live Score: Opener puzzle and Travis Head’s flexibility boost Australia

Australia face a critical selection dilemma at the top of the order after opener Usman Khawaja was ruled out due to persistent back spasms. Steve Smith must now finalise who partners Jake Weatherald, with options including a promoted Travis Head or possibly Josh Inglis, which would preserve Head’s usual middle-order role.

Head’s explosive century as a makeshift opener in Perth — a stunning 123 off 83 deliveries — strengthens his bid to move up again. The left-hander himself embraces flexibility, saying batting orders are “ever evolving” and insisting he can “play in any role”.

A shuffle may also bring all-rounder Beau Webster into the XI at No. 6, pushing Cameron Green up to No. 5 and keeping Marnus Labuschagne available as a floating option if needed. Australia’s batting reshuffle, instead of appearing unsettled, offers them additional firepower and tactical freedom heading into Brisbane.

08:42 (IST) Dec 04

ENG vs AUS, 2nd Test Match Live Score: Pink-Ball Advantage - Australia’s strength under lights

Australia will once again bank on their exceptional day-night record, having won 13 of 14 pink-ball Tests worldwide. The only blemish was a defeat at the Gabba last year against the West Indies, something England will cling to as faint encouragement.

Humid Brisbane conditions are expected to aid swing, making Mitchell Starc the key threat for the hosts as they continue to miss captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

England fast bowler Brydon Carse spoke of the challenges of bowling with a “slightly newer ball under lights”, suggesting sharp movement as play moves into the evening session.

While Australia remain overwhelming favourites in the twilight format, Stokes’ side have prepared rigorously, holding extended training sessions in Brisbane to better understand night-time movement. Whether those efforts can offset Australia’s pink-ball mastery will shape the momentum of the series.

08:41 (IST) Dec 04

AUS vs ENG Live Score: England chase a rare brisbane win to revive Ashes hopes

England enter Thursday’s second day-night Ashes Test desperate for a turnaround after their Perth collapse handed Australia a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Their mission is made tougher by history — England have not won a Test in Australia since 2010-11 and have failed to triumph at the Gabba for 39 years. They also lost all three previous day-night Tests against Australia.

Captain Ben Stokes insists the team has moved on from their four-hour capitulation in Perth and is “not scarred” by past results, but they face the might of pink-ball specialists at a venue where visiting teams rarely survive.

England will be without pace spearhead Mark Wood due to injury, with off-spinner Will Jacks replacing him to bolster the batting. With the urn at stake, another defeat could make hopes of regaining it increasingly unrealistic, leaving England with no margin for error.

AUS vs ENG highlights, 2nd Ashes Test Day 1: Joe Root finally broke his Australian drought with a maiden Test century on his fourth Ashes tour, guiding England from a precarious 5/2 to a competitive 325/9 at stumps on a gripping opening day of the second Test in Brisbane on Thursday.

Mitchell Starc grabbed 6/71 — a haul that elevated him past Wasim Akram to become the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test history — but the day belonged to Root, who crafted a flawless unbeaten 135 in the day-night contest.

There was late drama too. No. 11 Jofra Archer thrilled England’s travelling supporters with a career-best 32* off just 26 balls, smashing two towering sixes. His unbeaten 61-run partnership with Root was England’s highest 10th-wicket stand at the Gabba.

For Root — currently the world’s No. 1 Test batter and second only to Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time run-scoring list — the hundred carried extra weight. Three previous Ashes tours had failed to produce a century on Australian soil, a fact long used to question his legacy. On Thursday, he ended that narrative emphatically.

Walking in during the third over with Starc swinging the pink ball and England rattled, Root steadied, rebuilt and then controlled the innings, reaching his long-awaited century with a simple leg glance off Scott Boland.

Starc’s early breakthroughs had set the tone, removing Ben Duckett in his first over and Ollie Pope in the next to leave England in deep trouble. But unlike the collapse in Perth, England showed resistance. Root and Zak Crawley weathered the storm and rebuilt with a vital 117-run partnership, with Crawley contributing a composed 76.

AUS vs ENG highlights, 2nd Ashes Test Day 1: Joe Root breaks Aussie drought with first ton; England 325/9 at stumps in Brisbane

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AUS vs ENG highlights, 2nd Ashes Test Day 1: Joe Root breaks Aussie drought with first ton; England 325/9 at stumps in Brisbane

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