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The Ashes: Live coverage of Day 1 of the second Test between Australia and England at the Gabba

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Chris RobinsonThe Nightly
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Joe Root has his first hundred in Australia.
Camera IconJoe Root has his first hundred in Australia. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Ashes pink-ball Test is here - and Australia are looking to take a stranglehold on the series.

All eyes are on Aussie skipper Pat Cummins in Brisbane, while WA’s Josh Inglis will be looking to impress as he gets set for a recall to the line-up in place of the injured Usman Khawaja.

As for England, the tourists have plenty of questions to answer after being destroyed inside two days in the series opener in Perth. Can the likes of Ben Stokes and Joe Root respond in the day-night format?

Stay across the latest from the Gabba here, with the toss of the coin at 11.30am (WA time) and the day’s play to begin 30 minutes later.

Reporting LIVE

Josh Kempton

Shot of the day!

That’s going to be hard to top as the shot of the day.

Joe Root has again brought out the reverse ramp to Scott Boland but this time he absolutely nailed the stroke, sending it over third man for his first six.

That brings up a 50-run partnership between this pair which would have frustrated the Australians to no end.

ENG 9-313

Josh Kempton

Jofra goes bang

No.11 Jofra Archer is having some fun here as the end of the day draws nearer.

With a wicket having the potential to bring Australia’s openers to the crease for a very tricky session, he has been happy to play some big shots, including a pair of big sixes.

ENG 9-303

Josh Kempton

Bringing out all the shots

With the monkey well and truly off his back, Joe Root is trying all sorts now.

He just opted to deal with a red-hot Mitchell Starc with a reverse ramp, which skewed into the off side for a single to move him along to 112 not out.

ENG 9-271

Josh Kempton

Carse out too!

And there goes Brydon Carse as well!

Alex Carey was again in the thick of the action, completing a fine catch.

That’s six wickets for Mitchell Starc, who is continuing to reach new heights.

ENG 9-264

Josh Kempton

Gus goes!

Gus Atkinson did not hang around for long, top-edging Mitchell Starc to Alex Carey to depart for four from only three balls.

The wicketkeeper had to contend with running a long way back and a collision with Marnus Labuschagne to complete the catch.

That marks another five-wicket haul for Starc, who has made a remarkable start to the summer.

ENG 8-264

Josh Kempton

Root makes first hundred in Australia!

At last, the second-leading run-scorer in the history of Test cricket has a hundred in Australia.

Joe Root has worked Scott Boland down to the fine leg boundary to bring up his century, which is just reward for a superb knock.

The milestone has come when his side desperately needed it, having come to the crease when England found themselves at 2-5 within the first three overs.

Root had notched nine half-centuries across his four tours of the country but had never gone on to a hundred until tonight.

The century is his 40th in Test cricket and fifth in Ashes cricket.

ENG 7-256

Josh Kempton

A wicket — but it’s not Root!

Mitchell Starc has prized his fourth wicket for the day after being re-introduced into the attack — but it may not have been the one Australia were desperate for.

Will Jacks’ bright and breezy 19 from 31 balls ended with a swipe outside off stump, drawing an edge claimed comfortably by Steve Smith at second slip.

Gus Atkinson has joined Root — who is 98 not out — in the middle.

ENG 7-251

Josh Kempton

Here we go

Joe Root has pulled Brendan Doggett for four to move within one blow of his first hundred in Australia, going to 96 not out.

He considered attempting repeating the trick from the final ball of the over but thought better of it, pulling out of the shot.

ENG 6-248

Josh Kempton

Nervous 80s

Joe Root finds himself on 88 not out as drinks are taken at the Gabba.

He had a few nervous pokes outside off stump in the last over before the break from Cameron Green but was not made to pay with his wicket.

ENG 6-235

Josh Kempton

Not over yet

Will Jacks is listed at No.8 but is very capable with the bat — as evidenced by a crisp cover drive from the bowling of Cameron Green which rocketed to the boundary.

England’s lower order could give them some ballast, with No.9 Gus Atkinson and No.10 Brydon Carse also decent batters.

ENG 6-227

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