The opening day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane was a gripping affair, with both Australia and England registering their names into the history books. In a remarkable day of pink-ball cricket, Mitchell Starc became the most prolific left-arm pacer in Test history, while Joe Root finally scored his maiden Test century on Australian soil. England ended the day on 325/9, a score few would have predicted after a disastrous start.

Starc, who started the day two wickets shy of the legendary Wasim Akram's record of 414 Test wickets, wasted no time in making his mark. In a devastating spell, he dismissed Ben Duckett with a golden duck in the first over and followed up with Ollie Pope in the third.

Later, he claimed the historic wicket of Harry Brook, surpassing Akram and cementing his place at the top of the left-arm pacer rankings. By the end of the day, Starc's six-wicket haul was his third consecutive "six-fer" in Test matches.

However, England's day was defined by Joe Root's masterful innings. Arriving at the crease with his team reeling at 5/2, Root steadied the innings and patiently built his long-awaited hundred. He was well-supported by Zak Crawley (76) in a century stand that defied Australia's momentum.

England ended the day on a high in Brisbane on Day 1 of the Pink-Ball Ashes 2025/26 Test

Just when it seemed Australia had wrested back control by reducing England to 264/9 under lights, Root and number 11 Jofra Archer stunned the home team. They bludgeoned an unbroken 61-run partnership, pushing England to a fighting total.

The resilience shown by Root, who finished the day on 135 not out, marked England's highest total in a pink-ball Test in Australia. It was an absorbing day of cricket, displaying exceptional individual feats and a classic Test match battle.