Ashes 2025-26: Australia vs England Highlights & Review – 2nd Test, Day 1
A jam-packed crowd at the Gabba was witness to some riveting cricket played by both sides in the pink-ball encounter.
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How did Day 1 of the 2nd Ashes Test go between Australia vs England? — Review, Turning Points & more
Opting to bat first on winning the toss, England ended Day 1 of the second Ashes 2025-26 Test on 325/9 in 74 overs. A jam-packed crowd at the Gabba in Brisbane was witness to some riveting cricket played by the oldest rivals in the first-ever Pink-Ball encounter at the venue.
Mitchell Starc struck twice in his first couple of overs to push England on the back foot. However, the duo of Zak Crawley and Joe Root navigated the new ball to lead England to 98/2 at Tea. Crawley, who had been dismissed for a pair in the first Test, scored 76 before under-edging a pull to the wicketkeeper in the second session.
The tourists scored another 98 for the loss of the two wickets to sit at 196/4 at Dinner. Five wickets fell in the final session. However, England did not get bowled out by the time the umpires called it a day. The last-wicket stand between Root and Jofra Archer has contributed 61 runs in no time, which is where they will resume tomorrow.
Speaking more of Root, the ace batter finally got to his first Test ton in Australia. He played a majestic innings while facing some quality bowling from the other end. The other star performer was Starc. His lethal left-arm pace picked up six wickets out of the nine. Starc ended with figures of 6/71 in 19 overs.
Top batting performance — Joe Root
After an underwhelming performance in the first Test by Root, there were a lot of doubts regarding the senior batter's Test future as well as England's chances of competing in the Ashes. However, he showed the world that 'class is permanent' by applying himself thoroughly under immense pressure and wickets falling at the other end. Root was elated after reaching the milestone. He ended the day with 135* to his name.
Hayden congratulates Joe Root for maiden ton in Australia
Top bowling performance — Mitchell Starc
Starc continued his golden spell in the Ashes, by being in the wickets once again. Coming off a 10-wicket match haul in Perth, he was right on the money again. From his two early strikes to rattle England up front to his wickets under lights, the fiery pacer was at his lethal best. He stands a chance of picking up his second seven-wicket haul in an innings tomorrow, having bagged six already at the end of the opening day.
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@StarSportsIndia303Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- This match is only the second time Nathan Lyon has not made it to Australia's XI in a home Test ever since his debut. The previous instance came against India at the WACA all the way back in January 2012.
- Starc overtook Wasim Akram to lead the wicket tally by left-arm fast bowlers in Tests.
- Steve Smith topped the list for the most catches as a fielder against any opposition in Test cricket.
- Joe Root notched up his first Test hundred in Australia.
- Root became the second English batter after Maurice Leyland to score a ton on the opening day of a Gabba Test.
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