Joe Root finally made a century in Australia to keep England afloat on a riveting first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.
With the day-night conditions fuelling the theatre, Root, who was dropped on two, tickled Scott Boland for four to reach three figures in Australia at the 30th attempt.
It sparked delirious celebrations in the rowdy corner of English support at the Gabba, while Root simply removed his helmet and shrugged his shoulders in the direction of the visitors’ dugout.
Despite Mitchell Starc ripping through England once more with 6-71, Root reached 135 not out – adding an unbroken 61 in a riotous last-wicket stand with Jofra Archer – to lift the tourists to 325-9.
Root arrived in the daylight, only 15 balls into the match, as England threatened an implosion to match their first-Test defeat as they slipped to 5-2.
Starc was electric, taking both wickets with his first nine balls. The left-armer remained a menace throughout the day, leading the attack as Australian again went without captain Pat Cummins and left out off-spinner Nathan Lyon in a home Test for the first time since 2012.
Root rebuilt in a stand of 117 with Zak Crawley, the opener impressive for his much-needed 76. Root also added 54 with Harry Brook, whose inexplicably loose drive at Starc’s second ball in the twilight made so much of England’s day a struggle.
England had to grind under the lights. Ben Stokes took 49 balls over 19 before he was run out asking Root for a non-existent single. When Jamie Smith was bowled by Boland for England’s third duck of the day, the tourists were teetering again at 211-6.
Will Jacks steadied with Root, only to chase an edge off Starc when Root had 98. In the next over, amid almost unbearable tension, Root had his Australian moment at last.
There was still time for Root and Archer to flay the weary Australian attack in 44 balls of mayhem before the close. Archer is 32 not out from 26 deliveries.
Archer clubbed two sixes, while Root celebrated his ton with a trademark reverse-scoop off Boland for a maximum of his own. It was tremendous fun at the end of a nerve-shredding day.