And that\u2019s day one done and dusted. England go into Friday on top, runs in the bag and the last wicket stand aflame. Joe Root has his deserved and long-awaited hundred in Australia. and the rest of us have the promise of a Test match going into a third day. Should be fun! Thanks for all your emails, apologies that I wasn\u2019t able to get to so many of them. We\u2019ll be back tomorrow \u2013 do join us. Bye!<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Many messages to celebrate England\u2019s greatest batsman. A handful below.<\/p>\n Ram Sridhar\u201c I am so happy for Root. Last Fortress seized with a gleaming feather on his ostentatious cap of centuries. I dare say that Aus have let England get away on Day 1. Not gonna jinx any further<\/p>\n Will Juba: \u201cRooooooooooooooooot! That albatross has finally taken flight. So pleased for him!\u201d<\/p>\n Tom Wellman. \u201cMight be an idea for the other English batsman to look at Root and think \u2018hhhmm, that works\u2019. Just an idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zac Crawley now with the mic, head shaved. \u201cI was trying to keep it simple, happy with my knock, gutted to get out when I did, the pitch just starting to get flatter. It would have felt a long break between Tests even if I\u2019d got two hundreds, I had a clear plan and I stuck to it. There were still a couple of loose shots in there, as I tend to do. I was trying to score on the leg side, trying to leave a bit better outside off. They shaved the wicket this morning and good to bat on.\u201d<\/p>\n Was there talk of a declaration towards the end? \u201cNo. The boys went hard, and if they got out it was a win-win situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A larger than life Matthew Hayden, relieved that he doesn\u2019t now have to walk naked round the MCG after a bet with Greg Blewett over whether or not Root would score a hundred this series. \u201cA magnificent day. Root looked great, he kept the ball really close under his eyes, it sets England up, Root up, and puts Australia on the back foot in this Test match.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll us old fogies did not like to see Australia without a spinner and the slow over rate too.\u201d<\/p>\n And OBO favourite Tim de Lisle drops a nugget in my inbox. \u201cEngland have already batted for more overs at the Gabba (74) than they did in the whole game in Perth (67.3). Proper creekit!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Vaughan has stopped an exhausted Mitchell Starc. How does it feel to have more wickets than Wasim? \u201cFine, Wasim is still the pinnacle left armer, I think he\u2019s still better.\u201d What is your relationship with the pink ball? \u201c It is what it is, I think it is like a white ball, a bit soft today\u2026 Joe batted well there. A tough day\u2019s cricket not the easiest to score or bowl with. A pretty solid day\u2019s Test cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Stumps<\/p>\n 74th over: England 325-9 (Root 135, Archer 32) Neser with the final over. Labuschagne chews his knuckle. Stokes laughs in the stands. Archer plays out the last ball and Root leads the players off, pulling off his helmet and waving it round the ground. A century in Australia his at last. After an up and down day \u2013 I think that\u2019s advantage England.<\/p>\n Joe Root heads back to the dressing after a good day at the office. Photograph: Philip Brown\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.38 EST<\/p>\n 73rd over: England 322-9 (Root 133, Archer 31) Starc now with the pure business of taking wickets. He looks a little weary as he trudges back to his mark. Archer picks up an easy run to reach his best Test score of 31. Five minutes left in the day, and Root steals the strike for the final over of the day.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 72nd over: England 316-9 (Root 129, Archer 29) Archer is swinging for England, but so far evading the fielders. Now Root happily reverse-swings\/sweeps Boland for six, as Neser leaps high and over the rope to try and catch it. And the clock has now ticked sufficiently that AUSTRALIA WILL NOT HAVE TO BAT TONIGHT.<\/p>\n \u201cThrilling stuff this rearguard blitz from Archer,\u201d writes Duncan Harte.<\/p>\n \u201cA quick update for any OBO readers who caught your post at O8:17 GMT:<\/p>\n \u201cDreams do comes true! Joe Root scores his first ton on Australian soil the same day our humble Gabbattoir project goes viral. https:\/\/gabbattoir.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks to Tanya\u2019s shout out, numbers have surged. We\u2019re approaching 200 players and there are now dozens of player groups. Many thanks to everyone who has signed up – welcome aboard. Predictions will open for tomorrow\u2019s play at stumps today. Then we\u2019ll find out if the server explodes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n England’s Joe Root reverse sweeps Australia’s Scott Boland. Photograph: Patrick Hamilton\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.40 EST<\/p>\n 71st over: England 307-9 (Root 122, Archer 27) Mitchell-who? Archer slams Starc\u2019s first ball for six. Root his third ball for four. More runs, slightly chaotic end of the day this for Australia.<\/p>\n Australia’s Mitchell Starc falls onto the pitch as England’s Joe Root runs. Photograph: David Gray\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.35 EST<\/p>\n 70th over: England 288-9 (Root 113, Archer 17) Archer makes the absolute most of these Australian tactics and the ticking clock, smiting six off a short ball from Boland, a couple of twos and then four more through deep mid-wicket. And now Root lets loose \u2013 a tidy pick up for four: 19 from the over. \u201cCome on!\u201d roars a watching Stokes.<\/p>\n Hello Richard Williams, \u201cI\u2019m sat watching a dodgy stream that\u2019s giving me the Australian coverage, where they\u2019ve mentioned that no team has lost a day night test having scored 260+ runs batting first. What odds on England achieving this rather unwanted record?\u201d<\/p>\n (literally as I\u2019m writing this message Atkinson has just gone)<\/p>\n Jofra Archer gives the ball a good whack. Photograph: Darrian Traynor\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.14 EST<\/p>\n 69th over: England 272-9 (Root 113, Archer 1) Root plays a reverse-scoop to Starc and they take a single, Archer drives. Smith changes the field a little bit here, a little bit there, and why wouldn\u2019t you. In the stands, Jamie Smith is already in his keeping gear. An Australian twelfth man slow-runs out a helmet for Travis Head at short leg.<\/p>\n \u201cMorning Tanya,\u201d Morning Jordi Fens!<\/p>\n \u201cThis series is the first I\u2019ve experienced as a shift worker. The disappointingly early finish to the first test meant my coinciding night shifts were instead spent dodging Christmas songs on various radio stations.<\/p>\n \u201cThis D\/N test poses different challenges: slogging through the lion\u2019s share of the night shift with no cricket to distract and knowing that at some point soon I\u2019ll have to turn in and sleep through what may well be an exciting end to the final session.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s test got off to an inauspicious start when I had to break off from the national anthems to give someone an early wake up call. Getting back to the car to hear England were already 13 for 2 barely a quarter of an hour in, swelled my disappointment. However, a tumultuous at times fight back has fostered my faith that this just may be England\u2019s series.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s to tonight\u2019s final night shift for my team, and finger\u2019s crossed tomorrow\u2019s first session is marked by Root and piling on the runs or perhaps another Stokes five for.\u201d<\/p>\n Good luck to you all, and all those on the night shift.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.11 EST<\/p>\n 68th over: England 269-9 (Root 111, Archer 0) What are Root\u2019s tactics here? If the last wicket fell now, England would get 25 minutes to bowl at Australia. While I\u2019m thinking about it, he cuts four on the back bend. Ah, here comes Matthew Potts with instructions from the dressing-room.<\/p>\n Sharp ears and eyes from the magnificently named Mojo Wellington. \u201cPedant\u2019s corner: although not so much of a pedant as I didn\u2019t pay enough attention to note the stat in detail, but pretty sure TMS commentary said it was the first run out of an England captain in an Ashes Test since 1975 (Tony Greig, I think). Ted Dexter\u2019s was the last one in Australia before Stokes.\u201d Thank you! <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.11 EST<\/p>\n 67th over: England 264-9 (Root 106, Archer 0) Six wickets for Starc, four ducks for England. A cunning plan for Archer to have some overs under lights?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.59 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Carse c Carey b Starc 0 (England 264-9)<\/p>\n Pitched up and Carse fends forward like an old man shaking his walking stick at the sea, and Carey takes smartly behind him.<\/p>\n That\u2019s half a dozen now for Mitchell Starc, he\u2019s on fire. Photograph: Cameron Spencer\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.27 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Atkinson c Carey b Starc 4 (England 264-8)<\/p>\n Atkinson hooks, and Carey and Labuschange sprint back separately but in unison, each seemingly oblivious to the other. Carey holds on, somehow, on the stretch, as Labuschagne crashes into him. A replay to check if the ball has touched the spidercam cable \u2013 but it hasn\u2019t. And another five-fer for Starc.<\/p>\n Alex Carey (left) and Marnus Labuschagne chase the ball. Photograph: Cameron Spencer\/Getty ImagesIt\u2019s Carey who ends up grabbing it. Photograph: Jono Searle\/AAPCarey (left) and Marnus Labuschagne celebrate the catch wih dismissed England\u2019s Gus Atkinson. Photograph: Jono Searle\/AAPAustralia\u2019s Mitchell Starc celebrates his five wicket haul and acknowledges the crowd. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.27 EST<\/p>\n Root makes his first Test hundred in Australia!<\/p>\n 66th over: England 258-7 (Root 106, Atkinson 0) Through the grill of Root\u2019s helmet, his blue eyes gleam. He defends the first ball from Boland, Carey reaching round the stumps to try and pick up the bounce off his thigh pad. Boland\u2019s second is a bouncer taken with immense skill and energy by Carey. Called wide. And now he has it, sashayed round the corner and to the rope. He raises both hands, grins, kisses the badge of his helmet, and raises his bat round the ground. A standing ovations from the ground, the England balcony \u2013 a box ticked on a magnificent career, at last. Four more into the leg side to finish the over.<\/p>\n And with his first hundred on Australian soil, he moves to fourth on the all-time list of Test centurions, with 40, behind only Ponting, Kallis and Tendulkar.<\/p>\n The fans applaud Joe Root as celebrates scoring a century, his first Test ton on Australian soil. Photograph: Cameron Spencer\/Getty ImagesJoe Root soaks up the applause. Photograph: Jono Searle\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.06 EST<\/p>\n 65th over: England 251-7 (Root 98, Atkinson 0) Aha! Smith brings Starc back. Root takes a single from the second ball to a rumble of \u201cROOOOOT\u201d from the English section of the crowd. Jacks has a wild swing at a wide and becoming wider ball from Starc. And does it terminally again.<\/p>\n \u201cEvening Tanya,\u201d hello Phil Withall.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Gabba is a transport vacuum, it has a bus station but is surrounded by major arterial roads out of the city that make it a horrible experience to get away from. Maybe take the fine for the slow over rate and speed up the transport infrastructure upgrades planned for the Olympics….Rant over, good night.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.51 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Jacks c Smith b Starc 19 (England 251-7)<\/p>\n Drives at a wide one from Starc, after he\u2019d driven and missed at a wide one the ball before. Smith at second slip watches the ball from bat to palm. And all after he\u2019d played so damn fine.<\/p>\n England\u2019s Will Jacks looks dejected after losing his wicket, caught out by Australia\u2019s Steve Smith off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersStarc celebrates yet another wicket. Photograph: Gareth Copley\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.42 EST<\/p>\n 64th over: England 250-6 (Root 97, Jacks 19) Weatherald\u2019s silver hoop earrings jingle as he gobs on the dirt. A Jacks single puts Root on strike with two balls of Green\u2019s over to reach his milestone. The first slides past his outside edge. He cuts the second and tries to come back for a never-there second until Jacks sends him flailing back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.29 EST<\/p>\n 63rd over: England 248-6 (Root 96, Jacks 18) Doggett starts the final mini-session with a friendly long hop and Jacks, easy-peasy, pulls him to the rope. Next to me on the sofa, the dog yawns. And now Root joins in \u2013 pulling finely and into the nineties \u2013 and passing highest Test score on Australian soil. And another! He\u2019s just four away now.<\/p>\n An email, from Darryl Accone in Jo\u2019burg.<\/p>\n Greetings, Tanya.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven Usman Khawaja\u2019s troubles surely it\u2019s time the Australian selectors put aside their animus towards Cameron Bancroft and pick him to open. He had an excellent season last year but was passed over, including for Sam Konstas, who proved essentially a one-trick pony, his debut knock of 60 or so. Bancroft has gone off the boil but is as good as any of the other candidates for the job.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a South African, it seems to me that although Warner and Smith were forgiven for Sandpapergate and rehabilitated by the establishment, Bancroft has been scapegoated — not for \u201capplying\u201d sandpaper to the ball but for being discovered doing so. It\u2019s a cowardly revenge by cricket in Australia\/ Cricket<\/a> Australia on someone who was coerced into cheating by a senior player and inveterate reprobate: Warner. Justice and selection common sense should prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 62nd over: England 235-6 (Root 88, Jacks 13) A Green maiden ends the first half of this final session, and they take DRINKS<\/p>\n And a huge thank you to Tom Collins for TMS overseas link instructions. See below:<\/p>\n \u201dPlease tell Irish viewers that you can access TMS by:<\/p>\n Downloading Cricket<\/a> Australia Live App to phone,<\/p>\n Clicking into the Match on the Home page,<\/p>\n Clicking into Cricket Radio,<\/p>\n Navigating to BBC Sport,<\/p>\n Selecting Real-time,<\/p>\n Bob\u2019s your uncle<\/p>\n Awkward, but it can be done.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 61st over: England 235-6 (Root 88, Jacks 13) Another one of those gorgeous Root back bending cuts off Doggett, from a delivery that turns out to be a no-ball. And four more for Jacks who, with immaculate timing, cuts Doggett through midwicket. Carefully rebuilding here from these two.<\/p>\n Trivia fans: Stokes\u2019s dismissal was the first time for more than 50 years that an England captain has been run out against Australia. That man was Ted Dexter in 1962-3, at the MCG. With thanks to TMS<\/p>\n \u201cGiven that there\u2019s no issue with light, why can\u2019t they play until the overs are finished?\u201d asks Andy Flintoff. I\u2019m guessing that there are city regulations\/public transport issues?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 60th over: England 227-6 (Root 85, Jacks 9) A Jacks off-drive beats Head to the rope \u2013 rather lovely stroke actually. Green, who has looked rather toothless, replaces Boland.<\/p>\n \u201cGood to see Root batting so well and protecting the tail,\u201d writes Andrew Moreman. Yes, he\u2019s fully in the zone here.<\/p>\n England’s Will Jacks attempts to avoid Australia’s Cameron Green as he runs between wickets. Photograph: Robbie Stephenson\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.31 EST<\/p>\n 59th over: England 218-6 (Root 82, Jacks 3). Jacks flashes at Doggett\u2019s first ball in a way that\u2019s isn\u2019t entirely reassuring. Shakes himself down and goes again. Clips another couple of runs. And we are into the final hour.<\/p>\n Morning, Tom v d Gucht:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d been watching the Aussie selections with interest and trepidation. I thought the ageing pool of talent they were picking from would weaken their team.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, I then remembered in a cold swear how Australia have a history of unearthing well-honed and nuggety warriors as well as swashbuckling all-rounders who I had written off as either journeymen, cheap knock-offs of all-time greats or bits-and-pieces players only for them to break my heart when they turn up and rub our face in the dust having perfected their craft after years of Sheffield Shield cricket and County stints- arriving fully formed and ready to do the job expected of them… Stuart Clark… Chris Rogers… Haddin…Symonds… Watson… Marsh… Possibly Nesser and Inglis too.. \u201c<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.07 EST<\/p>\n 58th over: England 216-6 (Root 82, Jacks 1) Boland wipes the sweat from his brow, Jacks checks over one shoulder, waits, bat aloft. We cut to the Australian dressing room where Cummins, in a back to front baseball cap, is studying a replay. Jacks is off the mark with a confident clip .<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 57th over: England 215-6 (Root 82, Jacks 0) Some good news for England \u2013 Australia\u2019s over rate has been so sluggish that England won\u2019t have to face the new ball tonight. A Root boundary to settle the stomach, leaning back to Doggett and gliding the ball through point.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.56 EST<\/p>\n 56th over: England 211-6 (Root 77, Jacks 0) A pretty calamitous five minutes that for England \u2013 courtesy of a pin-point throw and a brilliant ball. Jacks \u2013 Test-match-less since 2022 \u2013 enters the lions\u2019 den. Survives his first three balls from Boland, the third skimming past the inside edge.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Smith b Boland 0 (England 211-6)<\/p>\n A mango, a peach, shimmies through the gate, jiggling off the seam, and Daddles accompanies Smith back to the dressing room.<\/p>\n Quack. Photograph: Gareth Copley\/Getty ImagesBoland celebrates. Photograph: Chris Hyde\/Cricket Australia\/Getty ImagesEngland batsman Jamie Smith trudges off. Photograph: Dave Hunt\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.15 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Stokes (run-out Inglis) 77 (England 210-5)<\/p>\n No! No! Stokes sets off for a run that wasn\u2019t, Root isn\u2019t coming, Stokes executes a three-point turn and hares back but a fabulous throw by Inglis, on the move, aiming at one stump, spells his downfall.<\/p>\n 55th over: England 210-4 (Root 77, Smith 0)<\/p>\n England\u2019s Ben Stokes reacts after getting run out by Australia\u2019s Josh Inglis. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersInglis is congratulated by his Australia teammates. Photograph: Gareth Copley\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.52 EST<\/p>\n 54th over: England 210-4 (Root 77, Stokes 19) Australia pull the field in, Carey stands up to Boland. Root taps his bat, pat, pat, on the hard Brisbane ground and at last there\u2019s something to get his teeth into \u2013 a fuller ball from Boland is driven with heavenly skill past the stumps and down the ground for four.<\/p>\n So many emails, I\u2019ll try to catch them all. But for now, does anyone have the overseas TMS link for Michael Keane\u2019s dad?<\/p>\n \u201dMy poor old Dad got back to Ireland yesterday having spent the last 2 weeks helping me recover from surgery and of course he\u2019s immediately struck down in bed with lurgy. TMS would cheer him up no end.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.40 EST<\/p>\n 53rd over: England 206-4 (Root 73, Stokes 19) Another maiden from Neser. The tension builds.<\/p>\n \u201c Hi Tanya, it\u2019s 12:45am here in San Diego,\u201d writes Michael Fryer. \u201cMy 5-year old daughter has a stomach bug and asked to have a bath to ease the discomfort. The only bright spot in all this has been the chance to follow some of the action I normally miss. When I went to bed we were 89\/2. I\u2019ve been delighted that England\u2019s batting has been in better shape than my poor daughter\u2019s tummy!\u201d Get well soon Michael\u2019s daughter!<\/p>\n Max Rushden has been biting his lip in a hipster Fitzroy north coffee shop..<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 52nd over: England 206-4 (Root 73, Stokes 19) England have seen Starc off \u2013 at least for now. Boland replaces him and England now have right arm medium from both ends. That\u2019s what county cricket prep is for. Boland hits Root\u2019s front pad. He\u2019s very far forward, but Smith is eager\/desperate and goes for the review. And loses it, Root was way outside the line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 51st over: England 204-4 (Root 71, Stokes 19) A quick single the only reward from a Neser over.<\/p>\n From the Gabba, Shinyi sends a beautiful picture of the Brisbane moon, rising above the stands and a crane.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50th over: England 203-4 (Root 70, Stokes 19) A gorgeous Stokes off drive for four, bat face open for autographs, off the first ball of Starc\u2019s over brings up the England 200. Later in the over, Stokes swishes and misses. Without wanting to delve into fan fiction, Stokes and Starc and Root are glistening with sweat here, their skin luminescent under floodlights, every angle illuminated.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 49th over: England 197-4 (Root 70, Stokes 15) Neser. The stands are bursting. England anti-Bazzballing these twilight overs. A sharp single to finish.<\/p>\n Hello there, Mike Morris!<\/p>\n \u201cWill Juba\u2019s elegant message (44th over) has inspired me to write a haiku about the day\u2019s play, it\u2019s called \u201cThe Aussie Attack\u201d:-<\/p>\n A toothless array<\/p>\n Wickets fall with abandon<\/p>\n Mitchell bloody Starc<\/p>\n Readers may insert a stronger epithet than \u201cbloody\u201d without corrupting my poetic intent.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Evening session<\/p>\n 48th over: England 197-4 (Root 69, Stokes 14)<\/p>\n \u201cTactically this session is what you set up your game for,\u201d Haddin says. \u201cIf Stokes and Root can dig in and get through it, the rewards will be immense.\u201d<\/p>\n Starc paws the dirt. Runs in, puffing his cheeks, three slips lurking. A single, then Stokes must endure five balls. Starc is disgusted with the ball, and hands it to the umpire \u2013 but it still merrily goes through the magic ring. Starc can\u2019t believe it. Head puts in his two-pennies-worth but is ignored.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Harry Brook gets a pasting in the Haddin-Prior dinner-time chat. \u201cHe\u2019s selling himself out and his team,\u201d growls Haddin. Similar talk on TMS earlier, with Agnew saying that Brook is at risk of wasting his immense talent. I do wonder if Bazball has been the best framework for him \u2013 when I was watching Brook play for Yorkshire before he was picked for England, I don\u2019t remember him playing with such recklessness.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Dinner – England 196-4<\/p>\n 47th over: England 196-4 (Root 68, Stokes 14) Neser shimmies in. Stokes lets one pass him by that whispers very close to his off stump. And another beauty sways past the outside edge. And another. Carey stalks him close up to the stumps, silken gloves and there\u2019s another fabulous take over Stokes\u2019s head. England have scored just five runs in the last five overs \u2013 but survived. Well played. A twenty minute break now for beans on toast\/energy gels at the Gabba, and coffees all round back home.<\/p>\n England batsmen Joe Root (left) and Ben Stokes look reasonably pleased how the second session is going as they leave the field. Photograph: Dave Hunt\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.20 EST<\/p>\n 446th over: England 196-4 (Root 67, Stokes 14) Smith and Head try to persuade the umpire to change the ball but it still fits through his pocket ball measurer, so they\u2019re sent on their way. The TV pictures are going heavy on the stunning sunset, less on the chanting Barmy Army. You can sense Stokes\u2019 concentration here as he lets one from Starc pass by his poised bat. Just one over before tea\/dinner I think.<\/p>\n The sun sets at The Gabba, Brisbane day one of the second Ashes Series 2025 test. Photograph: Robbie Stephenson\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.24 EST<\/p>\n 45th over: England 194-4 (Root 67, Stokes 13) Neser replaces Boland. Five dots balls, a wide \u2013 then the extra ball nearly does for Stokes as it sprays off the pitch and lollops up. Stokes stares and chews his lips.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44th over: England 193-4 (Root 67, Stokes 13) The pink ball shines in Starc\u2019s hand like a giant highlighter, his arms gleaming with Brisbane sweat. He gets one to bounces nastily off the seam at Stokes. England seem to have decided to wait him out.<\/p>\n Hello Will Juba!<\/p>\n \u201cA short one from me\u2026<\/p>\n Root: an entire cricketing nation refuses to temp fate\u2026 Hope that albatross is sitting comfortably on your shoulders?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43rd over: England 191-4 (Root 66, Stokes 12) Two fours from Stokes off Boland\u2019s over \u2013 one flashily through the slips \u2013 again I\u2019m not sure they saw it \u2013 one tickled off the pads.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I were Alyssa Healy, I\u2019d delete \u2018Over, First\u2019 from Mitchell Starc\u2019s phone. But then again, I\u2019m the jealous type. …\u201d Very good, Rowan Sweeney.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42nd over: England 182-4 (Root 65, Stokes 4). The sun is now a ball of flames on the horizon and the floodlights have taken over. Root steadfasts out five balls from Starc and picks up a single off the sixth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.23 EST<\/p>\n 41st over: England 181-4 (Root 64, Stokes 4) Boland ambles in \u2013 one from the over. With Brook\u2019s wicket, Starc overtakes Wasim Akram to become the leading left-arm fast bowling wicket taker in history.<\/p>\n A wonderful email lands, (to be entirely accurate landed before Brook was out.) Hello Duncan Harte!<\/p>\n Greetings from Glasgow. This is all going suspiciously well at the moment. While I dream about a Root century, here\u2019s a little something I hope could be of interest to OBO readers during the next break or at end of day\u2026<\/p>\n The 2017 Ashes series might bring back painful memories for most England fans, but it will always have a special place in my heart. Sitting in a London curry house with four friends a few days before the First Test in Brisbane, talk inevitably turned to the cricket. We soon found ourselves running through the classic OBO playbook: themed best XIs, club cricketing mishaps, the summer of 2005, Jaffa Cake related debate and, of course, our predictions for the upcoming series.<\/p>\n Little did we know this idle talk would prove the start of an eight-year, delirious descent down the rabbit hole, as the five of us sought to perfect the \u2018science of cricket prediction\u2019. As we continued to send each other predictions across the series, a fiercely contested game with increasingly baroque scoring regulations gradually took shape. We became completely obsessed. Work deadlines were missed, marital harmony was tested to its limits, but life was never sweeter. We had a name for this addiction \u2013 one chosen in honour of that brutal Brisbane Test arena and the exquisite agony of watching our finely tuned predictions flounder like the England top order \u2013 \u201cGabbattoir\u201d.<\/p>\n Fast forward to 2025 and we\u2019re now into our fifth Gabbattoir series. It\u2019s a game we\u2019ve previously only ever played between the five of us, but over the years, others have expressed curiosity in joining the action. And so, a few months ago, we embarked on a hare-brained scheme to turn our project into something that could be enjoyed by the wider public. Those interested can now visit https:\/\/gabbattoir.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n The principle is simple: the more accurate your daily prediction, the better your score. The reality is, you\u2019re about to embark on a whole world of pain. You can learn more about how it all works in the ABOUT GABBATTOIR section.<\/p>\n The thought of fellow OBO readers forming their own Groups and taking delight in this strange thing we\u2019ve created seems almost too much to hope for. It\u2019s been a labour of love, it\u2019s entirely free to play and it\u2019s inspired by our belief that test cricket really is the greatest thing we\u2019ve managed as a species so far.<\/p>\n We\u2019d be over the moon if you could mention us.<\/p>\n Done! And I\u2019ve got an inkling you might tickle a few OBO boxes\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.23 EST<\/p>\n 40th over: England 180-4 (Root 63, Stokes 4) I think we might have hit the witching hour\u2026. Starc grins a wolfish grin as he strides giantly back to his mark. IT wasn\u2019t a great shot from Brook \u2013 and incidentally Smith was shaking his head after taking that catch at slip \u2013 I don\u2019t think he could see the ball. Stokes off the mark with four through the slips<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Brook c Smith b Starc 31 (England 176-4)<\/p>\n A flamboyant drive, an edge \u2013 and the balls flies up and into Smith\u2019s waiting paws. Two balls into Starc\u2019s new spell\u2026<\/p>\n Mitchell Starc dismisses Harry Brook as the England batter edges to Steve Smith in slips. Photograph: Dave Hunt\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.18 EST<\/p>\n 39th over: England 175-3 (Root 62, Brook 31) Both sides are wearing black armbands in memory of Robin Smith. Root nudges Boland off his toes to pick up a single, Brook sends his bat in flamboyant arc for another. Root is hit on the front pad from Boland\u2019s last ball, Boland likes it, so does Smith, they review \u2013 it was in line but would have been bouncing over leg stump \u2013 and Australia lose a review.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38th over: England 172-3 (Root 61, Brook 30) Green\u2019s previous over went for nine and Brook is eager for more. He flashes at the first two balls and doesn\u2019t connect, but connects to the last, flaying a wide one square to the rope. It\u2019s a shot that reminds Michael Vaughan of Kevin Pietersen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.58 EST<\/p>\n 37th over: England 166-3 (Root 61, Brook 24) Thanks Martin! Well this is looking a lot more perky than when I rolled over in bed to hear 11-2. Root is 39 away from that which should be unmentioned and Brook is full of mischief. The ground is almost completely in shadow now and the sun hovers on the brow of the sky. A maiden from Boland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.18 EST<\/p>\n 36th over: England 166-3 (Root 61, Brook 24) Cameron Green bowls the last over before drinks and Joe Root welcomes him with a punch straight drive back past the all-rounder to the rope. A full toss takes Root by surprise but he picks a gap wide of mid-off for three more runs. Brook ends the over getting away with an inside edge on to his pads as England keep their noses in front with 68 runs on the board for the loss of one wicket since tea.<\/p>\n Thanks a lot for following along to this point. After a dramatic start to day one at the Gabba, it has strangely taken on the form of traditional Test encounter. Tanya Aldred will take the ball from here and for what I expect to be the most intriguing part of the day\u2026 and night. Enjoy!<\/p>\n Scott Boland bowls to Joe Root as the sun goes down over the Gabba. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris\/CA\/Cricket Australia\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.52 EST<\/p>\n 35th over: England 157-3 (Root 52, Brook 24) Scott Boland replaces Doggett with a ray of light creeping across the striker\u2019s end and Mitchell Starc back on the field. Cameron Green collects a defensive dab into the gully and inexplicably throws down the stumps. The England batters scamper through for a single that relieves the pressure on Root and Brook is immediately on the attack with a lofted slice to backward point for two.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34th over: England 154-3 (Root 51, Brook 22) Neser with a neat over that only concedes two runs while Australia wait for the shadow to complete their journey across the Gabba outfield.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33rd over: England 152-3 (Root 50, Brook 21) Joe Root reaches his 10th half-century on Australian soil with a single off a shorter ball. The 34-year-old is cruising along now after a shaky start and is halfway to that elusive Test ton. Mitchell Starc is off the field perhaps preparing for his third spell.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32nd over: England 147-3 (Root 48, Brook 18) Root whips Neser away from outside off and through mid-on to the boundary as the runs keep flowing for England. Australia had already gone up with a shout for lbw but Neser started his delivery wide of the crease and it was heading too far down the leg-side after hitting Root on the pads. Still enough happening even as the pink ball is now more than 30 overs old.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31st over: England 143-3 (Root 44, Brook 18) Doggett keeps digging the ball in short but is unable to truly test, let alone trouble, the England duo. Three singles in the over each coming from a controlled pull shot.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30th over: England 139-3 (Root 42, Brook 16) Sublime wicketkeeping from Alex Carey almost sends Harry Brook on his way. The keeper is up at the stumps to Neser as Brook steps forward and attempts to ramp the quick. Carey whips the bails off but Brook has only just got his foot down behind the line. Not sure if Brook gets rattled by much, but that\u2019s a reminder to stay closer to his crease.<\/p>\n Harry Brook attempts a ramp. Photograph: Jason O\u2019Brien\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.20 EST<\/p>\n 29th over: England 133-3 (Root 41, Brook 11) Harry Brook is off to a flyer as he takes the attack to Brendan Doggett as the Australia quick looks to test him off the back of a length. Brook clips a first boundary off his pads then steps back to slice another through point.<\/p>\n
(Apologies in advance if I\u2019ve just tempted fate)\u201c<\/p>\n![\"Tanya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Tanya_Aldred.png\")
Tanya Aldred<\/p>\n![\"Martin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1764853149_970_Martin_Pegan.png\")
Martin Pegan<\/p>\n