England believe that the chaotic final half-hour at the Gabba swung the opening day of the second Ashes Test in their favour, after Joe Root and Jofra Archer 's unbroken tenth-wicket stand of 61 took them to 325 for 9 under lights.

At the scheduled 9pm close, England were 269 for 9 after 68 overs, with Root unbeaten on 111. It was a remarkably similar situation to the opening day of the 2023 series between these teams in Edgbaston , when Ben Stokes declared with Root on 118 to give England four overs to bowl at Australia before the close.

The added element of the pink ball - and the opportunity to bowl at Australia under floodlights - strengthened the case for a declaration, prompting David Warner on Fox commentary to say he was "absolutely baffled" that Stokes had not pulled

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