Joe Root said England were "well and truly" still in the day-night second Ashes Test despite Australia seizing a 44-run lead on day two Friday in Brisbane.

Joe Root has waited a long time to tick off one particular item on his bucket list -- a Test century in Australia. More than a decade, in fact. But on Thursday at the Gabba, under lights in the second Ashes Test – a pink-ball one, the world’s top-ranked Test batter finally ended a 15-Test drought that had stretched all the way back to 2013.

Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc said Thursday he could not be compared with Wasim Akram after he surpassed the Pakistani great as the leading left-arm pace bowler in Test history.

England's Joe Root conquered his final frontier with a first Ashes century in Australia as the tourists pushed past 300 on day one of the second Test in Brisbane on Thursday despite a six-wicket haul from pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

England's Joe Root on Sunday questioned whether the Ashes needed a pink-ball Test as he expressed confidence in his ability to get a big score in the day-night clash against Australia in Brisbane.

Root arrived in Perth this week to newspaper headlines calling him "Average Joe" as pundits highlighted his supposed shortcomings.

The former England captain has chalked up nine test half-centuries in Australia, with a highest score of 89 in a nine-wicket loss in Brisbane in December 2021.

England batter Joe Root said his experience of 158 Tests makes him better equipped than ever to end a victory drought in Australia, as he ramps up preparations for the upcoming Ashes series.

Joe Root has brushed aside David Warner's jibe that he will need to "take the surfboard off his front leg" if England are to triumph in Australia in the upcoming Ashes series.

Chris Woakes is prepared to bat through a shoulder injury if England need him to seal a series win over India, according to former captain Joe Root.

England had moved to within 35 runs of securing a famous victory over India when bad light and torrential rain ended an extraordinary fourth day of the final test at The Oval on Sunday.

The seasoned England batter, featuring in his 69th Test, is now the leading run-getter in WTC history, having participated in all four editions of the tournament. 

India pacer Prasidh Krishna said he was surprised at Joe Root losing his cool so easily to a mild taunt on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test between India and England on Friday and revealed that it was not a coincidence but part of the team’s plan against England’s run machine.

Joe Root has insisted helping England win games rather than surpassing Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket's all-time leading run-scorer remains his primary motivation after moving into second place in the standings.

Ricky Ponting is convinced there is "absolutely no reason" why Joe Root cannot surpass India's Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket's all-time leading run-scorer after the England star leapfrogged the Australian into second place on Friday.

Ben Stokes' lengthy bowling spells against India in the third Test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said.

The Old Trafford Test starts on July 23.

Joe Root's unbeaten 99 checked India's progress on Thursday's opening day of the third Test against England at Lord's.

The 34-year-old batting maestro is set for a busy and high-profile six months in England whites, with the India series at home followed by a much-anticipated Ashes tour Down Under.

England vice-captain Ollie Pope has retained his place at number three for the first Test against India, meaning rising star Jacob Bethell must wait for his return to red-ball internationals.