Starc’s historic wickets, Root’s resilient century steal the show in Ashes opener

The opening day of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba delivered a thrilling mix of history and heroics, with Australia’s Mitchell Starc rewriting the record books and England’s Joe Root finally achieving a long-awaited milestone.

Starc started the day in electrifying fashion, striking early to dismiss Ben Duckett for a golden duck in the first over and following it up by removing Ollie Pope, leaving England reeling at five for two. Both early wickets proved extremely valuable, giving Australia immediate control under the pink-ball lights. He returned in the second session to send Harry Brook back for 31, marking his 415th Test wicket and surpassing Pakistan’s Wasim Akram to become the highest wicket-taking left-arm seamer in Test history. By stumps, Starc had impressive figures, once again underscoring his status as Australia’s premier strike bowler.

Despite the early setbacks, Joe Root stood firm for England. Battling the potent Australian attack, he crafted a patient and composed innings, bringing up his first-ever Test century in Australia. Partnering with Zak Crawley and a gritty tail-end stand, Root helped stabilize England’s innings, turning a precarious situation into a respectable total. His milestone century was built off 202 balls, demonstrating both resilience and class, and it provided England with a vital psychological boost after early losses.

By the close of play, England were 325 for 9, largely on the back of Root’s innings. The day highlighted a striking contrast, Starc’s ruthless early strikes versus Root’s measured recovery, and set the stage for an enthralling Test ahead. Starc’s record-breaking achievement cements his place among the all-time greats of fast bowling, while Root’s century could mark a turning point for England in the series.