The Ashes 2025 second Test day one as it happened: Joe Root’s breakthrough Australian ton and late English assault defy Mitch Starc’s six wickets

And that’ll do for today. Well done all, except as previously mentioned, on the over-rate front.

England with their noses in front thanks to that last half hour, 260 all out to 325 and still batting is a hell of a swing in momentum.

Joe Root: all class. Mitch Starc: pink ball maestro. Zak Crawley: overdue and easy on the eye. Alex Carey: superb. George Bailey: in the crosshairs. And Nathan Lyon? In his own words: “absolutely filthy”.

And me you ask? I’m just happy we’re going to get more than two days worth of cricket. More of today’s fair and there’ll be no complaining. Tomorrow, we go again.

Nathan Lyon has spoken to Channel Seven’s Mel McLaughlin on the edge of play about being dropped - very tough interview on both counts and it got awkward at times with Lyon not mincing his words.

McLaughlin: “How was the conversation with selection chair George Bailey?”

Lyon: “Short”.

McLaughlin: “Like this one?”

Lyon: ”Yeah, absolutely filthy, but I can’t do anything about it. I just hope I can play my role in making sure I get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure we get the right result here.”

Lyon found out about his demotion 90 minutes or so before play and upon inspecting the pitch, figured he could do some damage on the Gabba wicket he’s performed well on throughout his career.

When McLaughlin asked how being left out twice in three Tests and barely bowling in Perth had him feeling, Lyon just gave a bemused ‘how do you think it feels’ look, before downplaying an issue of communication with the Australian selectors.

“Communication is always there,” he said.

“I just haven’t had it in me to go and sit down with the coach and George at the moment, so that will happen.

“I’m not the first player to miss a match and I won’t be the last. Obviously, I’m pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket, especially at a venue like this. I’m extremely disappointed, but as I said, I’ll do whatever I have to do to make sure these guys are up”.

Some of the slowest cricket you’ll see from Australia and it could prove costly… or nothing could happen if they dismiss England before end of 80th over, no fines or Test Championship penalties for overrates. If they don’t, points penalty could be significant.

No Nathan Lyon meant five seamers in hot, humid Brisbane conditions but even before Steve Smith started playing silly buggers trying to avoid batting under lights.

Even with the extra 30 minutes play, only 74 overs were bowled.

For those wondering, teams are - allegedly - expected to bowl 90 overs in six hours. Can’t remember the last time I saw that though.

That’s a wrap on the day. And what a way to finish it. England’s Joe Root (135*) and Jofra Archer (32*) put together an unbeaten 61 from just 45 balls to take a competitive total to a potentially match-winning one.

The tourists’ late blitzkrieg could prove definitive, even with all and sundry questioning why they weren’t putting Australia in to bat under lights.

England finish up 9-325 and will come back tomorrow - nothing deflates an opposition like a last-wicket stand.

England 9-325 Root 135*, Archer 32* leads by 325 runs

England bring up 300 with first a Jofra Archer six cracked over long-on from Mitchell Starc, and then Joe Root follows up belting him straight down the ground.

Entertaining batting. You’d still be putting Australia in to face the music, but it is tougher to argue with the 50 runs these two have put on from 29 balls.

Five more minutes and Australia won’t bat tonight, the 10 minutes of change-over will roll into stumps. Root doubles down with … a reverse hook? That goes for six, courtesy of a leaping Scott Boland’s right hand.

England 9-314 Root 128*, Archer 27* leads by 314 runs

I’m jumping the gun a bit, but this has Michael Neser opening the batting tonight written all over it.

The Australians have flagged the idea of using a nightwatchman as an opener when starting an innings under lights, and this is shaping to be the perfect scenario for it.

Neser, with five first-class centuries and an average of 28, is the ideal candidate to protect one of the openers.

And the other question from an England perspective, how long do you keep Jofra Archer out there chewing up precious minutes under lights when he could be bowling?

Steve Smith is slowing play down like his life depends on it and we’re probably down to four overs for Australia to bat if they change innings right now. Time is ticking away.

Don’t look now, but more things are happening at the Gabba. Alex Carey take a bow. And the sand bucket to replace the chunk you just took out of the Gabba outfield.

The Aussie keeper has taken a fine outfield catch running back after Gus Atkinson skied a hook shot over his head. Mitch Starc’s got his fifth wicket of the day, but only after Carey raced Marnus Labuschagne into the deep and managed to beat his first-slip to a diving catch.

That could have been dangerous with both fielders’ eyes on the ball, instead Carey produces. He’s been fantastic behind the pegs - fine reward.

And two balls later, Brydon Carse is edging, Carey is diving again to his right with a one-handed speccy. Six for Starc.

England 9-264 Root 106*, Carse 0 leads by 264 runs

Another one bites the dust - Mitch Starc closes in on five for the innings. Will Jacks is tempted into a full one on sixth stump and edges straight to Steve Smith after wafting away at a wide ball just one delivery earlier. Classic sucker ball wicket that one.

Meanwhile, Joe Root has got himself to 98 with a couple of boundaries as Starc takes aim at England’s tail. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse can hold a bat though.

Root suddenly starting to look jittery with Scott Boland back into the attack.

England 7-251 Root 98*, Jacks 19 leads by 251 runs

Nathan Lyon has spoken to Channel Seven’s Mel McLaughlin on the edge of play about being dropped - very tough interview on both counts and it got awkward at times with Lyon not mincing his words.

McLaughlin: “How was the conversation with selection chair George Bailey?”

Lyon: “Short”.

McLaughlin: “Like this one?”

Lyon: ”Yeah, absolutely filthy, but I can’t do anything about it. I just hope I can play my role in making sure I get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure we get the right result here.”

Lyon found out about his demotion 90 minutes or so before play and upon inspecting the pitch, figured he could do some damage on the Gabba wicket he’s performed well on throughout his career.

When McLaughlin asked how being left out twice in three Tests and barely bowling in Perth had him feeling, Lyon just gave a bemused ‘how do you think it feels’ look, before downplaying an issue of communication with the Australian selectors.

“Communication is always there,” he said.

“I just haven’t had it in me to go and sit down with the coach and George at the moment, so that will happen.

“I’m not the first player to miss a match and I won’t be the last. Obviously, I’m pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket, especially at a venue like this. I’m extremely disappointed, but as I said, I’ll do whatever I have to do to make sure these guys are up”.