BRISBANE, Dec 10: Joe Root set a record for most runs in a calendar year by an England Test batter and shared an unbroken 159-run stand with Dawid Malan on Friday to lead a rally in the Ashes series opener against Australia.
Root was unbeaten on 86 and Malan was 80 not out when England reached 220/2 at stumps on Day 3.
The England skipper has 1,541 runs so far in 2021, beating Michael Vaughan’s record of 1,481 runs in 2002. Mohammad Yousuf holds the Test record with his 1,788 runs in 11 matches for Pakistan in 2006.
England is still 58 runs behind. But after being dismissed for 147 on Day 1 and conceding a 278-run first-innings deficit, the third-wicket pair finally gave England a session of dominance.
Root faced 158 deliveries, hit 10 boundaries and was one run shy of his highest previous score in an Ashes Test Down Under. Malan faced 177 deliveries as the pair got through almost two full sessions.
Malan said the only way for England to go forward was to forget the first innings, not be “sitting ducks” and just take the attack back to the Australian bowlers. But he said the job was only half done, and England needed at least another 250-300 runs to pressure Australia. With Root still there, it’s possible.
Australia resumed Friday at 343/7 and added 82 for the loss three wickets in the morning session, with Travis Head bowled for 152 by Mark Wood to end the innings at 425.
England’s openers survived to reach 23 without loss at the first interval but both were out early in the afternoon session and the total was 61/2 when Root joined Malan at the crease.
Conditions were perfect for batting on Day 3, which started with Head marshalling Australia’s lower order. He put on 85 for the eighth wicket with Starc (35) and 29 for the ninth with Nathan Lyon (15) to prolong Australia’s innings. Lyon was out to Mark Wood when Head was on 147 and Australia was on 420, leaving No. 11 Josh Hazlewood to hang around long enough to help his teammate cross 150.
Wood bowled Head to finish the innings and return 3/85. Ollie Robinson had figures of 3/58 and Chris Woakes had 2/76. Ben Stokes, playing his first Test match since March, had 0/65 off 12 overs and appeared to be struggling with his fitness.
England hasn’t won a Test in Australia in a decade and hasn’t won a Test at the Gabba since 1986, while Australia’s loss to India here in January was its first since 1988. (AP)
