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Ashes, 1st test: Joe Root sets massive test record for England

 
Ashes: Joe Root broke the record for the most test runs made by an English batsman in a calendar year, beating Michael Vaughan's previous record of 1,481 runs in 2002.

England captain Joe Root led England's comeback against Australia on day three of the opening Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday. Joe Root scored another half a century in the longest format in the game as England, wrapped up for 147 pieces in the first innings, kept in the hunt. The right-hander now also has the record for the most test runs made by an English batsman in a calendar year, beating Michael Vaughan's previous record of 1,481 runs in 2002.

In the 38th over of England's innings, Root picked up a single from Nathan Lyons Bowling, which took him past Vaughan's record on the calendar year list.

This isn't the first time Root has scored more than 1,400 runs in a calendar year. He accumulated pain for opposing bowlers in 2016 when he scored 1,477 runs. A year earlier, the English captain had scored 1,385 runs.

Jonny Bairstow nearly broke Vaughan's record for England when he scored 1,470 runs in 2016.

In Ashes' first Test, Root was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in the first innings for a duck. But the English talisman bounced back in style in the second innings, scoring a 100-run partnership with Dawid Malan for the third wicket to keep the score in play.

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England stared at the barrel after being thrown for 147, and Australia then piled on the runs, scoring 425 runs to take a mammoth lead of 278 runs.

Travis Head scored a great 152 for Australia while David Warner scored 94 when the hosts were in full control of the Brisbane Test.

At the time of this writing, Australia was 184 for two in 57 overs and is still behind Australia with 94 runs.