The second Ashes Test at Brisbane's Gabba witnessed a day of high drama, personal milestones, and a stunning fightback on Thursday, 5th December 2025. England captain Joe Root, on his fourth tour of Australia, finally silenced his critics with a masterful unbeaten century, the first of his career on Australian soil. His heroic 135 not out lifted his team from a disastrous 5 for 2 to a respectable 325 for 9 at stumps on Day 1 of the day-night encounter.
Root Conquers Final Frontier, Anchors England's Recovery
Walking in under immense pressure after Mitchell Starc's fiery opening burst had removed both openers cheaply, Joe Root displayed immense composure. He crafted a patient yet authoritative innings, guiding England from the brink of collapse to a position of strength. His 202-ball vigil was punctuated with classic strokes and immense grit, bringing up his long-awaited maiden Australian hundred with a delicate leg glance. This was Root's 40th Test century, moving him past Kumar Sangakkara on the all-time list.
He found crucial support from Zak Crawley, who played a disciplined knock of 76 in a 117-run partnership that blunted Australia's early momentum. Crawley, who had suffered twin failures in Perth, described Root as "the best player I've ever played with or against." Valuable contributions from Harry Brook (31) and others helped England rebuild steadily, showcasing a more tempered approach compared to their aggressive style in the first Test.
Starc's Record-Breaking Spell Overshadowed by England's Resolve
While Root dominated the narrative, the day also belonged to Australian speedster Mitchell Starc. The left-arm quick produced a devastating spell with the pink ball under lights, claiming figures of 6 for 71. His early strikes included a golden duck for Ben Duckett and the wicket of Ollie Pope, reducing England to 5 for 2.
More significantly, during his spell, Starc surpassed Pakistan legend Wasim Akram's tally of 414 wickets to become the most prolific left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket history, with 418 scalps. Despite the monumental achievement, Starc remained humble, stating, "Wasim's still the pinnacle, I think he's still better than me."
Archer's Late Fireworks and Australia's Bold Selection Call
Just as Australia looked to wrap up the innings quickly at 264 for 9, England's No. 11, Jofra Archer, played a sensational cameo. He smashed an unbeaten 32 off just 26 balls, including two towering sixes. Along with Root, he added an unbroken 61 runs for the last wicket, setting a new record for England's highest 10th-wicket partnership at the Gabba.
In a major tactical surprise, Australia dropped veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, opting for an all-seam attack by bringing in Michael Neser. This marked the first time in nearly 14 years that Australia played a home Test without a frontline spinner, a decision that raised eyebrows and allowed Root and Crawley to rebuild without facing Lyon's probing off-spin.
Day 2 Poised for Intriguing Battle
With England resuming at 325 for 9, the first session on Day 2 promises to be brief but crucial. Australia will aim to take the final wicket swiftly and begin their batting reply. England, led by Root and Archer, will look to eke out every possible run to push the total closer to 350.
The contest is delicately poised. England's fightback, anchored by Root's historic ton, has given them a psychological edge and a total to bowl at. However, Australia's potent pace attack, led by the record-breaking Starc, will be confident of making early inroads when they get their chance to bowl under lights again. The stage is set for another gripping day of Ashes cricket at the Gabba.
