England achieved a rare milestone on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, stitching together a 100-plus partnership within the first two wickets — something they have managed only once in Australia over the last decade. The landmark stand between Zak Crawley and Joe Root not only steadied England after early setbacks but also entered the record books for its rarity in Australian conditions.
This is only the second time since the 2013/14 Ashes that England have put together a century partnership inside the fall of their first two wickets in Australia. The only other instance in the last 17 Tests came in the 2017/18 Ashes, when James Vince and Mark Stoneman added 125 runs for the second wicket, also at the Gabba.
Crawley’s fluency and Root’s composure helped England rebuild after losing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope early, pushing the visitors into a strong position in the afternoon session. Their partnership of over 115 (off 146 balls) showcased controlled aggression and intelligent play against the pink ball, especially with swing yet to fully take effect under lights.
With England at 120/2 and momentum on their side, the challenge now shifts to converting this rare early dominance into a substantial first-innings total — something they have struggled to achieve consistently on Australian soil.
