Joe Root and Dawid Malan added an unbroken 159, 12 more than England’s first-innings total, for the third wicket, to make headlines on Day 3 of the first Ashes Test match at the Gabba. The partnership lifted England from a position where defeat looked certain. They closed on 220/2 after Australia were all out for 425, reducing the deficit to 58.
After a significant day for England, Root is now 14 runs shy of his first Test hundred in Australia. He also became his country's highest Test runs-getter (1,541) – and eighth overall – in a calendar year, surpassing Michael Vaughan's 1,481 in 2002. The world record lies with Mohammad Yousuf, who scored 1,788 for Pakistan in 2006.
With Root is Malan, who has already spent more than four hours at the crease. He is batting on 80, laced with 10 fours. Keeping Root company, he gave Australia a stiff challenge after they were reduced to 61/2 after lunch.
England were 278 runs behind when Australia were finally bowled out. They were in trouble when Rory Burns fell for 13 and Haseeb Hameed for 27, caught behind off Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc respectively. However, Root and Malan then held the fort and forced them to bowl 49 wicketless overs before the close of play.
Earlier, Travis Head was the last to be dismissed for Australia’s total after they resumed the day on 343/7. Head’s 148-ball 152 was the second-fastest 150-plus score in the Ashes after Adam Gilchrist's 143-ball 152, at Edgbaston in 2001. He was cleaned up by Mark Wood, who finished with 3-85. Ollie Robinson also picked up three wickets, for 58, while Chris Woakes returned 2-76.
Brief scores: England 147 (Jos Buttler 39; Pat Cummins 5-38) and 220/2 (Joe Root 86*; Pat Cummins 1-43) trail Australia 425 (Travis Head 152; Ollie Robinson 3-58) by 58 runs.