Brisbane witnessed one of those rare Test-match evenings that rewrite record books and, at the same time, remind the cricketing world why the sport still belongs to storytellers. On a day when England looked finished at 264-9 under the fiery spell of Mitchell Starc, a script unfolded that no fan, expert, or commentator could have predicted.

Two players — Joe Root, the backbone of English cricket for more than a decade, and Jofra Archer, the unpredictable maverick known for magic in moments — stitched together a partnership that instantly entered the pages of cricketing folklore.

What happened over the next hour was more than just resistance. It was audacity. It was belief. And it was history.

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Root’s Century: A First on Australian Soil After 16 Attempts

When Root walked out on the Gabba pitch on Thursday (December 4), he carried an invisible weight — 15 prior innings in Australia without a single Test hundred. Critics doubted whether he would ever conquer Australian conditions in a way that legends before him, like Sachin Tendulkar or Steve Smith, had.

But on this evening, with the field up, the lights bright, and England sinking, Root finally broke through.

His unbeaten 135 off 202 balls* was not just another century — it was a declaration: “I’m still here. I still decide the tempo of Test cricket.”

This was Root’s first Test hundred in Australia, and it couldn’t have come at a more critical moment.

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Then Enter Archer — A No. 11 Who Bats Like a No. 4

When Jofra Archer walked in at 264-9, England were not just on the ropes — they were hanging from them. But Archer chose violence. He swung freely, timing cleanly, launching two massive sixes and a boundary on his way to 32(26)* that looked like it belonged to a top-order batter.

Archer did not just survive. He seized control.

The duo’s unbeaten 61-run stand is now officially the highest 10th-wicket partnership in pink-ball Test history, surpassing the previous record of 59 held by Tom Blundell and Blair Tickner against England in 2023.

With each run, the Australian bowlers — Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood — seemed to lose their rhythm, almost unable to believe what they were witnessing.

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Why This Partnership Feels Even Bigger Than the Numbers

A 61-run 10th-wicket stand can be technically explained. But the context behind it is what transformed it into something unforgettable:

England were staring at collapse.
Australia had full control.
Starc had already taken six wickets.
The pink ball was reversing sharply.
The Gabba crowd expected a quick finish.

But Root and Archer flipped the entire script.

By the time stumps were called, England did not look broken — they looked dangerous.

Their total of 325-9 is now also the highest first-innings score by a visiting team in a day-night Test in Australia.

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Archer Creates Another Massive Record

As if that wasn’t enough, Archer also became:

• *The highest-scoring No. 11 batter ever in a pink-ball Test (32)**, breaking Starc’s decade-long record of 24.
• The first No. 11 in Test history to cross 300 career runs while batting last in the order.
• The visiting No. 11 with the joint-most sixes in a Test innings in Australia.

For a man who hadn’t played a Test in years due to injuries, this comeback feels poetic.

Root and Archer added 56 runs in the final six overs of the day 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IUXjZnv4rA

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 4, 2025

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A Partnership That Changes the Series Narrative

Make no mistake — Australia dominated two-thirds of the day. But cricket is a momentum sport, and sometimes momentum shifts at the most unexpected moments.

This Root-Archer stand has:

• Put psychological pressure on the Australian top order.
• Given England belief heading into Day 2.
• Created a storyline that could ultimately reshape the entire Ashes rivalry.

Even former players like Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan (both trending on social media) praised the partnership, calling it “one of England’s greatest escapes under lights.”

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Records Broken by Root & Archer (Pink-Ball Tests)

Highest 10th-Wicket Partnerships (Pink Ball):

Players	Runs	Team	Opponent	Venue	Year
Joe Root – Jofra Archer	61*	England	Australia	Brisbane	2025
Tom Blundell – Blair Tickner	59	New Zealand	England	Mount Maunganui	2023
Jackson Bird – Nathan Lyon	49	Australia	Pakistan	Brisbane	2016

This is not just a statistic — it is a disruption in a format where last-wicket stands rarely touch 20 runs, let alone 60.

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What Happens Next?

With Archer still unbeaten, there is a real chance he becomes the first-ever No. 11 to score a fifty in a pink-ball Test. If he does it, the Gabba might witness another historic entry before Australia even picks up a bat.

And Root? He’s already playing like he wants England to control this Test — and perhaps the whole series.

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