Joe Root made Australia pay for dropping him on nought by making a century that rescued England from a dire position on the first day of the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens.
Root’s 134 was the cornerstone of England’s stumps total of 343 for seven. He came in with England struggling at 43 for three after the loss of captain Alastair Cook and Ian Bell in quick succession before lunch.
But Root played aggressively and, with Yorkshire teammate Gary Ballance who made a gritty 61, helped add 153 for the fourth wicket on a sluggish pitch.
“I rode my luck at times, especially early on,” Root said.
“When they (Australia) attack, that’s the best time to attack them. Sometimes you’ve got to be the one who stands up and gets the runs.”
It took Root just 118 balls to complete his hundred – the quickest in the first match of an Ashes series – and was his seventh century in only 28 Tests.
Root and Ben Stokes (52) put on a brisk 84 for the fifth wicket before both batsmen fell to left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc before stumps.
Moeen Ali was 26 not out and Stuart Broad unbeaten on nought at the close. Starc led Australia’s attack with three wickets for 84 in 19 overs.
But fellow left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, whose 37 wickets were central to Australia’s success in the last Ashes, went wicketless as his 20 overs cost 87 runs.
Josh Hazlewood, the third member of Australia’s pace trio, marked his Ashes debut with three for 70 in 22 overs.
“The game is fairly level at this stage,” Hazlewood said. “Hopefully we can clean them up in the morning.
“When Root was batting he played fantastically and we need to find a plan for him.”
Cook batted first after winning the toss despite overcast conditions and with England at 43 for three early the decision looked a precarious one.
Then, though, Balance and Root, who was dropped off the second ball he faced by Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who dived to his right for a catch that he should have taken comfortably on his feet, got England back into the game.
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