The opening day of the Gabba Test unfolded like a gripping sporting drama—early destruction, middle-order revival, and a late surge that kept the floodlit arena humming with tension. As the sun dipped and the pink ball came alive, both Australia and England traded heavy blows, reminding the cricketing world why the Ashes retains its aura.
Mitchell Starc, the master of pink-ball menace, was in full rhythm from the start. With just the final ball of the first over, he uprooted Ben Duckett with a teasing outswinger. Duckett departed without scoring, and England were immediately rattled. The next over brought further misery: a sharp in-swinging delivery from Starc beat Ollie Pope and crashed into the stumps. Two wickets gone, no runs between them—England were 5 for 2 and reeling.
Yet Test cricket’s charm lies in its capacity for revival, and that revival came through Zak Crawley and Joe Root. Crawley batted with elegance and adventurous intent; Root with poise and calm. Their partnership of 117 stunned the home crowd and quietened the Australian fielders. Crawley’s 76, compiled with crisp drives and firm pulls, ended when he edged Michael Neser behind.
England’s progress continued as Root found support first in Harry Brook and then in Will Jacks. Brook’s energetic cameo forced Australia onto the defensive, though Starc soon returned to dismantle the partnership. In doing so, the Australian speedster etched his name into the record books—he surpassed Wasim Akram to become the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test history. His tally later rose to 418 wickets by the day’s end.
The floodlights brought fresh drama. Ben Stokes fell to a run-out after confusion with Root, and Jamie Smith departed soon after, bowled comprehensively. England seemed to be slipping deep into trouble once more.
But Root, with his trademark serenity, absorbed the chaos. He reached a richly deserved century—his first on Australian soil—by dispatching a loose delivery to the boundary. It was a milestone long awaited, and the delight on his face reflected its significance. The hundred also took him past 1,000 Test runs in Australia, a feat few visiting batters achieve.
Jofra Archer joined Root late in the evening and played with surprising confidence, counter-attacking to notch an unbeaten 32 from just 26 balls. Together, they stitched a vital 61-run partnership that lifted England to 325 for 9 by stumps.
Starc finished with figures befitting his dominance: six wickets, several of them game-shifting. But the day belonged equally to Root, whose majestic unbeaten 135 kept England firmly in contention.
It was, as Starc succinctly said afterwards, “a proper day of Test cricket”—and one that leaves the remainder of the match beautifully balanced.