The second Test of the Ashes 2025 series between Australia and England got underway on Thursday, December 4, at the iconic Gabba in Brisbane. Australia entered the day-night clash with a 1-0 advantage after their victory in the series opener in Perth.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat, but perhaps seemed a risky call when he asked Alastair Maiden and Rory Mcintyre to open the innings. Under the lights, Mitchell Starc provided Australia a dream start by sending back Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for blobs to leave England reeling at 5/2 in only 2.3 overs.
Joe Root and Zak Crawley later spearheaded a strong recovery with an important 117-run partnership to stabilise the innings. Michael Neser broke the Crawley-Root partnership in the 28th over but Root dug deep and showed more authority than his miserable century drought suggested to record a first hundred on Australian soil.
By stumps on Day 1, Root had hauled England to 325/9 with the tailenders providing him crucial support, Jofra Archer contributing an unbeaten 32 off only balls in a whirlwind knock.
Fans were treated to an absorbing day of Test cricket in Brisbane, and social media quickly lit up with hilarious reactions. Cricket lovers flooded X with memes and posts, with one viral tweet reading:
Joe Root first ever Test century in Australia 🫡 pic.twitter.com/tvPrsa9Doz
— Homie (@homelander_yyy) December 4, 2025– Virat Kohli coming closer to 100 Centuries
– Joe Root coming closer to Test records
Sachin Paaji 😭 pic.twitter.com/qnewliPFSi
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) December 4, 2025— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) December 4, 2025 Matthew Hayden celebrating Joe Root 's first Ashes century in Australia#Ashes #AUSvsENG pic.twitter.com/7jFLzOgC7o
— Raja Babu (@GaurangBhardwa1) December 4, 2025Congratulations Matthew Hayden on Joe Root's hundred. pic.twitter.com/9jF77ns2lm
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 4, 2025– Duckett: 0(1)
– Pope: 0(3)
– Jamie: 0(2)
"A day without DUCKS is a day wasted" – Bazball. pic.twitter.com/RtS1jMJp5z
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) December 4, 2025Sachin Tendulkar to Joe root and Virat 😭 pic.twitter.com/yXnFJJtR00
— Homie (@homelander_yyy) December 4, 2025— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) December 4, 2025 Mitchell Starc taking back to back 5 wicket hauls in Ashes pic.twitter.com/B3DSA54Jbr
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) December 4, 2025Mitchell Starc 🐐#Ashes pic.twitter.com/K8h5iQGNw4
— Rajabets 🇮🇳👑 (@rajabetsindia) December 4, 2025“Pretty solid day’s Test cricket” – Mitchell Starc after conclusion of day 1 of 2nd AUS vs ENG 2025 Test
After stumps, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc spoke up about passing Wasim Akram’s Test wicket total, saying:
“Wasim is still the pinnacle of left-armers and up there with the best in the world. I get asked about it all the time, I don’t know.”
Reflecting on his spell, Starc continued:
“It is what it is – it’s like the white ball. Good Test cricket, couple of Yorkshiremen, runs and wickets. Joey’s batted really well. Once the ball goes soft it’s not the easiest thing to score with or bowl with. Proper Test cricket. Nine for 320 odd, pretty solid day’s Test cricket.”
