Joe Root stayed unbeaten on 138 as England ended on 334 on Day 2 of the second Ashes Test. Australia took the last wicket early in the morning session. It came in the third over of the day.
Root reached his first Ashes hundred in Australia late on Day 1. He looked calm and firm throughout his stay. He also added 70 runs with Jofra Archer for the last wicket. That stand pushed England to a strong total.
Brendan Doggett removed Archer with the 14th ball of the morning. Archer tried a hook. Marnus Labuschagne grabbed a low one-handed catch at backward square. England’s innings lasted 76.2 overs in total.
Root played 206 balls for his century. It was his first hundred in four Ashes tours. Archer made 38 from 36 balls. He hit two sixes and two fours. One of those shots was a clean square drive off Mitchell Starc in the first over of the day.
England began the morning at 325 for nine. Root was on 135 overnight. His partnerships kept England steady. He added 117 runs with Zac Crawley, 54 with Harry Brook, and 70 with Archer.
Mitchell Starc finished with 6 for 75 from 20 overs. His series tally moved to 16 wickets. With one of his early strikes at the Gabba, he went past Wasim Akram to become the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket.
