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Captain Joe Root and top-order batter Dawid Malan inspired England to a stunning comeback on Day 3 of the ongoing first Ashes Test at the Gabba. The visitors, who got bundled out for 147 before conceding 425 to Aussies, successfully cut down the deficit from 278 to 58 after the end of third day’s play.
After losing two wickets at 61, Root and Malan took charge to lead England’s fightback. The duo kept tickling the scoreboard and found odd boundaries whenever Aussie bowlers went for some bad lines.
The duo formed a breathtaking unbeaten stand of 159 runs for the third wicket to keep Australian bowlers at bay. England finished the third day at 220/2 with Root (86 no) and Malan (80 no) at the crease.
Earlier, Travis Head was the final wicket to fall for Australia on the third day. He smashed a brilliant 152 to inspire his team towards a big first-innings total. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon also chipped in with 35 and 15 as the hosts posted 425 on the board in their first innings.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Heart. Fight. Character.
A brilliant unbeaten 159-run partnership between @root66 and @djmalan29 👏
Scorecard: https://t.co/d58tIUHrXO#Ashes | 🇦🇺 #AUSvENG 🏴 pic.twitter.com/A0eCEsdP9H
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 10, 2021
Amazing fightback #ashes
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) December 10, 2021
Glad there wasn’t a capitulation.
Still a long way to go though#AUSvENG #Ashes— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) December 10, 2021
Another wonderful day of test cricket & terrific character/fight shown from England. Australia still favourites & ahead in this game but with England only 58 runs behind & 8 wkts in hand, all results still possible ! Hurry up day 4. Love test cricket @FoxCricket ❤️
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 10, 2021
Waking up to see England had a good day 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 #Ashes
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) December 10, 2021
It’s all happening at the Gabba and could well be the most happening 5th day if England can trump the first session tomorrow. #ashes
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 10, 2021
Joe Root and Dawid Malan led England’s fightback in the final session of day three with an unbeaten 159-run partnership 💪#WTC23 | #AUSvENG | https://t.co/pR2hqnigau pic.twitter.com/KS8iaPfffS
— ICC (@ICC) December 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1469209027758460934
It’s now got early signs of 2010/11 .. !! #Ashes 👍
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 10, 2021
England have made 10 century partnerships in Tests this year. Joe Root has been involved in 8 of them. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 10, 2021
Most Test runs in a calendar year (England):
JOE ROOT 1,482 | 2021
Michael Vaughan 1,481 | 2002#Ashes— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) December 10, 2021