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Joe Root of England (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) England captain Joe Root remains confident about his team’s chances in the day-night second Ashes Test, despite Australia gaining a 44-run advantage on day two in Brisbane.Root’s outstanding knock of 138 not out, his first century in Australia, helped England reach 334 in their first innings.Australia responded strongly, reaching 378-6 by the end of play. The hosts benefited from England’s imprecise bowling and missed catching opportunities on a pitch showing signs of wear.”It’s clear we weren’t at our best… but we took those wickets in a cluster, which shows the nature of this game,” Root told TNT Sports, referring to Brydon Carse removing Cameron Green and Steve Smith within four deliveries.”More work to do, but we’re well and truly in this game. It is different fielding to a pink ball, we practise really hard, just one of those days when things didn’t stick to hand. We’ll keep backing ourselves. We need to take four wickets,” he added.”It’s a simple game. Energy and positivity. We know our best cricket can turn a game very quickly. If we are anywhere near our best this game can turn in our favour.”Root celebrated his 40th Test century, marking a significant milestone in his career.”I tried not to approach anything different to the last couple of years,” he said. “Any time you contribute in an Ashes it means a huge amount. The most enjoyable thing was to get into a position to get us in the game.”

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Joe Root insisted England worked as hard as they could to be ready for the day-night Ashes Test, despite missing five chances on the second day at the Gabba.

The tourists face an uphill task to stay in the match and the series after Australia closed on 378-6 – 44 runs ahead.

Four of the chances England missed came in the night session under the floodlights in Brisbane.

England rarely play pink-ball Tests – this is their eighth, compared to Australia’s 15th. Whereas Australia annually include a day-night Test in their schedule, England have played only one since their last visit to this country four years ago.

After losing the first Test inside two days, England opted not to send any of their XI from Perth to a day-night England Lions game against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.

Ben Stokes’ side instead had five training session in Brisbane, two of which were under floodlights.

“We worked as hard as we could,” said England batter Root. “We did a huge amount of catching and making sure we utilised those two sessions under lights well.

“Sometimes the catches just don’t stick. You’ve got to keep applying yourself and wanting the ball so you’re ready when that next opportunity comes. That’s one of the nuances of the game and this pink-ball Test match.”

However, former England captain Michael Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast no amount of fielding drills can replicate match practice.

“I would have done things completely differently,” said Vaughan, who led England to victory in the 2005 Ashes. “What I saw today was a team that looked jaded.

“These fielding drills – they’re fantastic, but you know the ball is coming to you. In a game, you have no clue when it is coming to you and it is completely different.

“The art of taking chances is concentration. If you’re not out there on a regular basis practising for many hours, when that chance comes you have to be concentrating to take that opportunity. The only way you get good at that is by training the brain to do it.”

When this point was raised with Root, he countered: “It’s never going to be perfect. All you can do is give yourself the best possible chance and I think we’ve done that.

“In the lead-up to this game we’ve got used to conditions, we’ve got used to the heat, we got used to the surfaces. We’ve caught under lights, we’ve caught in daylight and tried to catch in twilight as well.

“We’re not perfect, we’re all human and we’re going to make mistakes.”

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As much as Joe Root and the England team and their fans were relieved with the former England captain registering his maiden Test century on Australian soil, perhaps even more relieved was one Australian: Matthew Hayden. And for some hilarious reasons.

On the opening day of the 2nd Test of the Ashes 2025-26, at the Gabba in Brisbane, Root ended his long-standing wait for a Test century in Australia as he anchored Englandâ€s first innings to a solid position by stumps.

A bona fide legend, Root, who is the second-highest Test run-scorer, had raised Test centuries in seven different countries before the start of this Ashes series. However, many had brought down some part of his legacy because he had not achieved a three-digit score in a Test match in Australia, and also had not won a single Test down under, having first played this format in Australia in 2013.

One box of the abovementioned has now been ticked off as Root reached his first Test ton in Australia in Brisbane after Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first.

Root has been in a rich vein of form over the last few years, ransacking runs with utter ease and raising centuries with unbelievable consistency.

AUS vs ENG: Hereâ€s How Joe Root Saved Matthew Hayden From Embarrassment Of ‘Walking Nude Around MCG†After His Century At Gabba

Ahead of this Ashes, while many had predicted for Root to have a good time with the bat, Australian legend Matthew Hayden went overboard: Hayden hilariously declared that: “Iâ€ll walk nude around the MCG if he doesnâ€t get a hundred this summer.â€

Haydenâ€s quote went viral on social media, and the former opener was being reminded of it after Root got out cheaply in the first Test in Perth, and also as he neared the century mark in Brisbane.

So, eventually, not only did Joe Root brake his jinx of a Test century in Australia, he also saved Hayden from the embarrassment of, well, who knows if he wouldâ€ve followed through with his commitment had Root gone century less back home.

After the end of dayâ€s play in Brisbane, Hayden congratulated Root and invoked his prediction in a funny way.

Hayden said in his social media message to Root: “Congratulations mate for a hundred here in Australia. Took you a while and there was no one with more skin in the game than me, literally. I was backing you for a hundred, in a good way. So, mate congratulations.â€

While Root has not got one monkey off his back, he will aim for another one: a maiden Test win in Australia.

England ended day 1 at the Gabba on a resounding note at 325/9, with Root and Jofra Archer sharing an entertaining 10th wicket stand of 61(44), which they will resume on Friday morning.

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Ashes 2025-26:- England batted first after Ben Stokes won the toss in the second Ashes Australia vs England Test. Joe Root scored his first Test century in Australia, reaching 135. He and Jofra Archer added fast runs for the last wicket, taking England past 300. Their stand reached 50 runs in just 29 balls. Archer made 32.

Mitchell Starc was the best bowler for Australia. He took 6 wickets and kept England under pressure. Michael Neser took one wicket.

England ended Day 1 at 325/9.

Australia used an all-pace attack in this pink-ball Test. The ball moved more under the lights and gave their bowlers help. Scott Boland bowled tight spells. Australia missed Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood again. Root batted calmly through tough periods and then attacked later. His century ended his long wait for a hundred in Australia.

Ashes 2025-26: Joe Root Hits His First Test Hundred on Australian Soil in the Second Ashes Australia vs England Test

Root finally scored his first Test century in Australia during the second Australia vs England Ashes Test in Brisbane. He reached the landmark in his 30th innings in the country. England were 5 for 2 when he came in, and he survived an early drop on two. He kept England steady as wickets kept falling at the other end. He reached his hundred with a flick to fine leg and achieved his 40th Test century.

Root had made nine fifties and 900 runs in Australia before this but had never reached three figures. His average in Australia was 33.33, his lowest in any country where he had batted more than twice. This century puts him one behind Ricky Pontingâ€s tally of 41 Test hundreds.

Former captain Alastair Cook called it a brilliant and pressure-heavy innings. Commentator Jonathan Agnew said the knock silenced Rootâ€s critics, including those who questioned if he could be considered an all-time great without a century in Australia.

Root survived lbw reviews on 62 and 73, and a catch that Steve Smith dropped when Root was on two. He adjusted his scoring areas early by avoiding shots behind the point, which usually troubles him in Australia, and focused on playing straight. As the ball softened later, he returned to his usual strokes.

Mitchell Starc Takes Sixth Pink-Ball Five-Wicket Haul in Ashes 2nd Australia vs England Test

Mitchell Starc took a five-wicket haul in the Ashes Australia vs England second Test, giving him a record six five-fors in day-night matches. No other bowler has more than two, showing how dominant he is with the pink ball.

He completed the milestone by dismissing Gus Atkinson. Atkinson tried to flick the ball, top-edged it, and it flew behind the keeper. Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne both chased it, dove together, and Carey caught it just above the ground. The catch was seen as one of the best of the year.

Starc also became the left-arm fast bowler with the most Test wickets, going past Wasim Akramâ€s record. He reached the milestone during Day 1 of the second Ashes Test when he dismissed Harry Brook. Starc achieved this in 102 Tests. He started the Ashes series strongly, taking seven wickets in the first innings and three in the second during the Perth Test.

Q. Where is the second Ashes Test in 2025?

A. The second Ashes Test is being played in Brisbane.

Q. Is the second Ashes Test a day-night match?

A.Yes, the second Ashes Test is a day-night match.

Q. Is the second Ashes Test a pink-ball match?

A. Yes, the second Ashes Test is a pink-ball match.

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Joe Root has finally recorded an Ashes century in Australia to help England edge an absorbing opening day of the second Test in Brisbane.

England’s greatest batsman came to the crease with his team on 5-2 after just 2.3 overs with Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope both being dismissed by Mitchell Starc for ducks.

However, with England’s backs against the wall and aided by some timely knocks from several teammates, Root compiled a magnificent 135 from 202 balls to take the tourists to 325-9 at stumps after the first three sessions of the day/night Test.

On his 30th attempt, Root reached the milestone that has defied him throughout his career, making three figures for the 40th time in Tests.

WHAT A MOMENT ?

JOE ROOT FINALLY HAS HIS FIRST CENTURY IN AUSTRALIA! ??

? Watch #TheAshes LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/5kggVrFowl

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 4, 2025

Root, Archer frustrate Australia skipper Smith

Nevertheless, it will be Root’s and Jofra Archer’s epic unbeaten 61-run stand for the last wicket that will make the headlines after Australia captain Steve Smith appeared to purposely slow the game down to reduce the chances of his openers having to face the pink ball late in the day.

Such was the shamelessness of the ploy that it became acceptable at one point for Ben Stokes, like he has done in the past, to declare on a below-par score with the view of progressing the game and taking a chance to make early inroads.

Instead, England went on the attack as Archer combined power and composure to make 32 off 26 – his best-ever Test knock – to contribute to England’s best-ever 10th wicket partnership at The Gabba in just 7.2 overs.

Jofra Archer just hitting sixes for fun out there ??

? Watch #TheAshes LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/00DWVm58Vh

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 4, 2025

Once England got within 10 minutes of the close, it was Root’s and Archer’s turn to slow down the game, but there will likely be ramifications for both teams after a full day of Test cricket only featured 74 overs.

Crawley justifies England faith

Earlier in the day, Zak Crawley bounced back from a pair of ducks in Perth with a superb 76 off 93, the kind of innings that Stokes and Brendon McCullum demand.

Harry Brook made 31 off 33, Stokes made 19 before running himself out and Will Jacks also added 19 ahead of becoming one of Starc’s six victims.

While the course of the game remains very much in the balance, England will claim a moral victory ahead of their attempt to stay ahead of Australia on day two.

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Root’s knock was not without its moments of tension.

On 88, one short of his previous best in Australia, Root berated himself for pushing and missing outside off stump to bowler Cameron Green.

There were lbw reviews on 62 and 73 – Scott Boland the bowler on both occasions – but the first would have missed the stumps and the second hit Root’s front pad outside off stump.

Talk about Root’s Australian record ramped up in the summer when former Australia batter David Warner referenced his “surfboard” of a front pad.

In truth, edging to the wicketkeeper and slips has been his real weakness with another dismissal in that manner in the first Test in Perth making it nine in his past 12 innings down under.

Root could have fallen in that fashion with only two to his name. He was squared up by Mitchell Starc, as he was in the first innings in Perth, and nicked towards the cordon.

The ball would not not have carried Marnus Labuschagne at first slip but Steve Smith, diving across from second, got a hand to the ball only for it to fall from his grasp.

From there Root batted smartly.

Guiding the ball behind point is one of his biggest strengths at home but that shot has been blamed for his struggles in Australia, where the ball bounces higher and edges are found.

In Brisbane, Root scored just 10% of his first 50 runs behind square on the off-side, instead targeting the ‘V’ down the ground. Only later did that familiar stroke return.

Root also made a conscious effort to get down the pitch to negate any movement with the pink ball.

His average interception point was 1.87m from the stumps – the highest in all but one of his innings in Australia.

Few will be happier that Root reached three figures than former Australia opener Matthew Hayden, who promised to walk around the Melbourne Cricket Ground naked if he did not score a hundred in the series.

“Congratulations on a hundred here in Australia mate,” Hayden said.

“Took you a while and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally.

“I was backing you for a hundred in a good way.

“Congratulations, 10 fifties and finally a hundred. You little ripper mate, have a beauty and enjoy it.”

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England’s Joe Root celebrates his century during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.. (AP Photo) After 16 matches, 30 innings, and four tours spread across over a decade, Joe Root finally had his moment in Australia. The England batter reached his maiden century on Australian soil on Thursday at the Gabba in Brisbane, in the second Test of the ongoing Ashes series, bringing an end to a long wait. Root reached the milestone in 181 balls, batting through a phase when England needed stability and control, and in the process, checked off one of the few achievements missing from his record.His earlier highest Test score on Australian soil was 89.With the century on Thursday, Joe Root has now scored 40 hundreds in his Test career. Root is now only one behind former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who has 41 Test hundreds.Overall, Root is at number four in terms of number of centuries in Tests, behind only Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), and Ricky Ponting (41). Australia, who won the opening Test inside two days in Perth, went into this match without regular skipper Pat Cummins.He had been rumoured to be making an early return from a back injury, but instead the hosts sprung a major surprise by leaving out off-spinner Nathan Lyon for seamer Michael Neser.It was the first time in almost 14 years that Australia played a Test at home without a frontline spinner.

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Joe Root has questioned whether the Ashes needs to include a pink-ball Test as England prepare to meet Australia in a day-nighter in Brisbane.

England are 1-0 behind in the five-match series after defeat in Perth and will attempt to level the series from Thursday at the Gabba – a ground where they have not won since 1986.

Day-night Tests were sanctioned by the International Cricket Council in 2015 in the hope audiences would be “encouraged and improved”.

The concept has been embraced in Australia. Thirteen of the 24 day-night Tests to have been played have been in this country.

Australia also have an outstanding record in day-night Tests, winning 13 of their 14 worldwide. England have won two of their seven, including three defeats in Australia.

Asked whether he believed the Ashes, cricket’s oldest rivalry, needs a day-night Test, former England captain Root told BBC Sport: “I personally don’t think so.

“It does add to things. It’s successful and popular here, and Australia have got a good record here as well. You can see why we’re playing one of those games.

“Ultimately, you know from two years out it is going to be there. It’s part and parcel of making sure you’re ready for it.

“A series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here either.”

Australia’s solitary defeat in a pink-ball Test came in their previous day-nighter at the Gabba, a shock loss to West Indies last year.

There has been one day-night Test played in England – against West Indies in 2017.

Australia have traditionally held their floodlit Tests in Adelaide, events that have proved popular with fans.

Though the Ashes schedule has changed for this tour – Adelaide is the third Test in the series and played in the day time – the pink-ball Test has remained on the calendar.

By beginning the series in Perth, in the west-coast time zone, and following with a day-nighter in Brisbane, the series opens with two matches suitable for prime-time TV viewing on the east coast of Australia.

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Joe Root entered the Ashes 2025-26 on the back of major talks of the opportunity to notch up his first Test century in Australia. But his series commenced in disastrous fashion as he was dismissed for a seven-ball duck by Mitchell Starc, who was on a rampage in the first hour in Perth.

The highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 began on Friday in Perth after England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch on which his opposite number, Steve Smith, the stand-in Aussie skipper, also wanted to bat in the first innings, citing that the pitch will break down as the game moves forward.

Englandâ€s Bazballers threatened to come unstuck early in the morning when the visitors were rocked to 39/3 inside nine overs, with all three wickets going to Starcâ€s account, who now has 100 Ashes Test wickets.

The hosts†bowling attack is far from their preferred first-choice cartel, as both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are missing the Perth Test due to injuries. Cummins is all but certain to play in the second Test in Brisbane.

Video: Mitchell Starc dismisses Joe Root for a duck in 1st Test

In the absence of two of the big three fast bowlers, the third one was on the money from the onset. Starc had delivered a memorable first ball of the Ashes 2021/22 when he knocked over Rory Burns. Four years later, he got rid of Zak Crawley for a duck, caught by Usman Khawaja at first slip, on the last ball of the first over of the series.

He then had Ben Duckett LBW, who was threatening to cut loose, for 21 off 20 balls. The left-arm speedster continued to steam in and damaged England significantly when he had Joe Root nicking to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip.

Starcâ€s back of a length pitched on leg stump and sharply moved away from the right-handed Root, who defended with a closed bat, leading to a thick outside edge that flew to third slip, where Labuschagne took an easy catch down on his chest.

Starc was absolutely pumped up as Root began his walk back to the dressing room without a score to his name. The 9000 England fans in the stands were stunned and silenced, while the Aussie supporters roared.

Watch the dismissal here:

Meanwhile, this was Mitchell Starcâ€s 100th wicket in the Ashes, making him the 21st player to achieve this.

Ashes 2025-26 AUS vs ENG 1st Test Playing XIs:

Australia: Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith(c), Cameron Green, Brendan Doggett, Alex Carey(w), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

England: Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes(c), Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith(w), Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood

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Ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes series, Sports Mole picks a combined England and Australia XI, including key decisions over Joe Root, Steve Smith and the wicket-keeper battle between Alex Carey and Jamie Smith.

England are preparing to face their old foes Australia in the 2025-26 Ashes series, with the latest edition of the storied rivalry set to get underway in Perth on Friday.

As the series hosts, Australia are looking to keep hold of the urn that has been in their possession ever since hammering England 4-0 in the 2017-18 series.

Meanwhile, England are bidding to reclaim the famous little trophy by beating their bitter rivals down under for the first time since 2010-11.

Ahead of the highly anticipated series, Sports Mole have been playing the role of a selector to pick a combined XI from the English and Australian squads.

Usman Khawaja (Australia)

This was a 50/50 decision between the experience of Khawaja or the care-free exuberance of England’s Zak Crawley.

Khawaja is a more dogged and gritty opener compared to Crawley, but he has forged a strong test career at the top of the order despite going through tricky periods.

An average of 43.86 across 84 test matches should be appreciated, and he has enjoyed success in the Ashes, having scored four hundreds and six fifties against England.Â

Ben Duckett (England)

The decision to include Duckett was a much simpler decision than the one between Khawaja and Crawley.

Duckett has developed a reputation as one of the best multi-format openers, with his style of play epitomising the aggressive ‘Bazball’ ethos.

Boasting a strike rate of 86.14 in test cricket, Duckett has all the attributes to get our combined XI off to an electric start, and his reluctance to leave the ball will certainly provide entertainment.

Joe Root (England)

Root and Smith are generational players, and as a result, they both have to feature in the combined XI

However, both players thrive at number four, so the inclusion of the pair has left us with the conundrum as to which star batter should move up to number three in our lineup.

After some deliberation, we have moved the former England captain up to number three, which should not be too much of a challenge for a batter who boasts a test average of 51.29.

Root has scored four centuries and 18 50s against England’s bitter rivals, although he is still waiting for his maiden Ashes ton on Australian shores.Â

Steve Smith (Australia)

Smith has proven to be a thorn in England’s side over the years, with Australia’s star batter boasting an average of 56.01 over 37 Ashes tests.

That is basically equal to his overall test average, demonstrating that he usually rises to the occasion when the pressure is at its highest.

Smith is currently in joint-second in the all-time list of Ashes hundreds, having scored 12 tons against England, leaving him seven centuries away from Don Bradman’s record total in Ashes cricket.

Harry Brook (England)

Another tough call in our lineup was whether to pick Harry Brook or Travis Head as our man at number five in the batting order.Â

Brook’s impressive average of 57.55 across 30 tests has tipped the balance in the Englishman’s favour, especially as he already boasts 10 test hundreds to his name.Â

Ben Stokes (England)

Stokes possesses the ability to win a game with bat and ball, making him one of the easiest picks in the lineup.

The all-rounder boasts four Ashes hundreds to his name, including that memorable 135 not out to guide England to an unimaginable victory at Headingley in 2019.

Stokes may only have a bowling average of 38.95 in his Ashes career, but he has the potential to break open a stubborn partnership with his skill set.

Jamie Smith (England)

The battle for the wicket-keeper spot is between Australia’s Alex Carey and England’s Smith.

Perhaps controversially, we have gone for the Surrey gloveman due to the fact that he has made an impressive impact in the opening stages of his test career.

Smith may be a fine wicket-keeper, but he could get into the England side based on his batting alone, having averaged 48.86 across his first 15 matches in test cricket.Â

Pat Cummins (Australia)

Cummins will miss the first test in Perth with a back issue, but when fit, Cummins is an obvious choice for the combined XI.

The Australia captain is in eighth spot in Australia’s all-time leading test wicket takers list, having racked up 309 dismissals across his 71 test matches.

Cummins’ impressive combination of speed and accuracy has made him one of the best test bowlers of the modern era.Â

Mitchell Starc (Australia)

For us, Starc gets pipped over the likes of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, even if he can lack the consistency of a Cummins or Josh Hazlewood.

As a quick left-armer, the 35-year-old will provide variety to the attack, plus he has the ability to produce game-changing spells.

The Australian paceman is three away from a century of Ashes wickets, having recorded 97 dismissals in 22 tests against England.Â

Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

Like Cummins, we are assuming all players are fit and firing for our combined XI, ignoring the fact that Hazlewood is another first test absentee due to injury.

Hazlewood is in ninth place in the all-time list of Australian test wicket takers, with the seamer just five away from reaching 300 dismissals in his illustrious test career.

The 34-year-old has taken 76 Ashes wickets at an average of 25.97, making him an obvious choice for our lineup.Â

Nathan Lyon (Australia)

This was comfortably the easiest decision of our selection, with the experienced Lyon an obvious pick as our spin option ahead of England’s Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks.

The 38-year-old is just one wicket away from moving level with Glenn McGrath as Australia’s second-highest test wicket taker of all time.

Who will captain and coach the Ashes combined XI?

We are going full ‘Bazball’ with our combined XI, taking Brendon McCullum as our coach and Stokes as our captain.Â

Stokes is a strong leader, and his attacking approach as captain has given him the nod over Cummins in our battle to be skipper.Â

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