Ace English batsman Joe Root was praised by former England captain Michael Atherton for his brilliant performance on the opening day of the second Test of the 2017 Ashes. In his 30th innings in Australia, Root scored his first Test century.
Joe Root milestone had taken longer than it should have, Atherton acknowledged. After the tourists had chosen to bat first after winning the toss, he praised the way the top-order hitter stabilised the innings despite a few early blows.
“It has taken a while to happen. For him, scoring important runs at a key moment is the most important thing. It might have gone terribly wrong because he went in for the 16th ball of the inning at 5 for 2. All those memories of Perth came flooding back when Mitchell Starc knocked back Duckett and Pope for ducks, but then England’s greatest run-getter played the innings of his life—because everything is on the line here’, Atherton said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.
Joe Root steadied himself at the crease after navigating the Australian quicks’ early assault.
With 15 fours and one six, he finished undefeated at 135 off 202. Since Michael Vaughan’s 177 in Adelaide in 2002, the 135 was also the highest score by an English batsman on the opening day of a Test match in Australia.
In England’s eight-wicket defeat in the series opener in Perth, Joe Root scores were 0 and 8. Concerns were raised over the performance of England’s most experienced batter in the remaining games of the series. The Brisbane knock, though, might mark a sea change for the Ben Stokes-led team.
In terms of the Stumps match situation, England reached 325/9 in 74 overs. By the end of the first day of play, Joe Root and Jofra Archer had established a crucial 10th-wicket stand of 61 off just 44 deliveries. Mitchell Starc finished with six wickets in yet another impressive fast bowling performance.
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