Root holds firm with first hundred in Australia

Veteran batter Joe Root hit his first Test century in Australia at his 30th appearance as England made 325 for 9 on the opening day of the second Ashes cricket Test in Brisbane yesterday.
Root with an unbeaten 135 in reality held the England innings together after Mitchel Starc plucked the first two wickets with just five runs on the board with opener Ben Duckett dismissed for a first-ball duck followed by Ollie Pope also sent back without scoring.
It fell on the shoulders of Root to join co-opener Zak Crawley to form an alliance of 117 runs for the third wicket before the stand was broken with the dismissal of the latter for 76.
England were at one stage sitting pretty in the day-night pink ball Test at 210 for 4, but the dismissal of Ben Stokes who was run-out for 19 spelt further trouble for England with five wickets tumbling for just 54 runs and Root running out of reliable partners with the total at 264 for 9.
Root played steady and cautiously with England already down 0-1 in the five-match Ashes series considered the most important Test rivalry in the traditional format of cricket.

Scores:
England 325/9  (Zak Crawley 76, Joe Root 135 not out, Joffra Archer 32 not out, Harry Brook 31, Ben Stokes 19, Will Jacks 19, Mitchell Starc 6 for 71 )