Brisbane: Joe Root posted a long-awaited first Ashes century in Australia to give England the honors on Day 1 of the second cricket test despite Mitchell Starc's six wickets.

Starc removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope to have England reeling at 5-2 in the third over Thursday.

That's when Root went to the crease and set about restoring the England innings, and confidence, following the series-opening eight-wicket loss in Perth.

His unbeaten 135 took England to 325-9 at stumps, with No. 11 Jofra Archer at a career-best 32 in an unbroken 61-run last-wicket stand.

Starc returned to dismiss Harry Brook in the middle session giving him his 415th career wicket, surpassing Pakistan great Wasim Akram (414 from 104 tests) as the most successful left-arm fast bowler in test cricket.

It was a jolt

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