Joe Root waited more than a decade for this moment, endured three failed Ashes tours, carried the weight of being one of England’s modern greats — and on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba, he finally did it. An unbeaten 135, crafted under pressure, under lights, and against an Australian attack that had England wobbling at 5 for 2 within the first few overs. This wasn’t just a century. It was a long-overdue declaration that Root’s class travels everywhere — including the one place that had stubbornly refused to yield to him.
England’s innings couldn’t have started worse. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were blown away early by Mitchell Starc, who was swinging the pink ball dangerously. England were in immediate trouble, and Root walked in with the score in single digits, needing not just to survive but to rebuild. He did more than that — he dominated. His early play was measured: crisp footwork, soft hands, and smart rotation of strike while he assessed the movement. Once settled, he began threading boundaries with his trademark ease — backward point, extra cover, midwicket — the full range on display.
Zak Crawley played a vital hand alongside him, adding 117 for the third wicket. Crawley’s 76 gave England breathing room and allowed Root to shift gears. As wickets fell later in the day, Root refused to change his tempo or mindset. His control was absolute — he rarely chased wide deliveries, punished anything on his pads, and kept Australia’s quicks working hard. It was an innings built on stubborn resilience and immaculate judgment.
By the time he raised his hundred, the significance was unmistakable. Root had fallen short six times before in Australia, often getting out in the nineties or losing partners at the wrong time. This time he pushed through, weathered everything, and celebrated a ton that had become both a personal quest and a narrative heavy enough that commentators had started to question whether the breakthrough would ever arrive.
The final phase of the day added even more weight to the innings. When England were eight down, Root found support from Jofra Archer, who smashed a lively 32* off 26 balls. Their unbeaten 61-run partnership dragged England from a modest score to a respectable 325/9 at stumps. Root ended the day still batting, still unflappable, still unbeaten — a captain in spirit even if not in name, dragging England forward with technique and poise.
This hundred does more than give England a competitive first-innings total. It lifts the entire morale of a side battered in the first Test and searching for footholds in enemy territory. And on a personal note, it cements Root’s legacy: a modern giant who has finally conquered the last frontier of his Test batting resume.
Day 1 belonged entirely to Joe Root — and in an Ashes series already tilted heavily in Australia’s favour, England desperately needed someone to seize a day like this. Root not only seized it; he owned it from the moment he walked in.
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