England recovered from 5/2 as Zak Crawley and Joe Root stitched a vital 93-run stand to take the visitors to 98/2 at Tea on Day 1 of the Australia vs England 2nd Ashes Test. (Image Credit: X/Cricbuzz)
Australia vs England 2nd Ashes Test: England's call to bat first in the Day–Night Test seemed to have backfired in no time as Mitchell Starc came up with a scorching opening spell, sending both openers packing in the first three overs.
Ben Duckett lasted just one ball, edging to Labuschagne for 0, before Ollie Pope was cleaned up by Starc for another duck. At 5 for 2, England stared at yet another top-order collapse at The Gabba.
But from that precarious position, Zak Crawley and Joe Root launched a spirited rebuild, blending grit with controlled aggression. Crawley drove crisply and punished width to a commanding 61 off 80 balls, while Root settled into familiar rhythm for his 32 off 60.
Together, the pair added 93 unbeaten runs, guiding England to a far healthier place by Tea.
While the swing eased a bit after the initial spell, Australia did ask questions. Starc was the best of the lot as he returned with 8-0-26-2 while Boland, Neser, Green and Doggett kept things tight but couldn’t get a breakthrough.
England, however, showed discipline in leaving well outside off and cashing in on anything loose to quietly shift momentum in their favour.
At Tea on Day 1, England are 98 for 2 in 24 overs, with Zak Crawley unbeaten on 61 and Joe Root not out on 32, after earlier losing Duckett (0) and Pope (0) to Mitchell Starc’s incisive spell.
Once again, the pink ball will swing under lights, and Australia know a single breakthrough can expose England's middle order. But for now, the visitors head into the second session with renewed confidence, thanks to two of their most composed batters soaking up the pressure and turning the early storm into a platform.
