Joe Root scored a fantastic unbeaten 118 as England declared their first innings at 393/8 at the end of Day 1 of the opening test against Australia at Edgbaston on Friday.
After winning the to electing to bat first, openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett got England off to a solid start. The duo added 22 runs for the opening wicket before the latter chased a wide delivery from Hazlewood to wicket keeper Alex Carey for 12.
Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope featured in a 70-run stand for the second wicket before the latter was trapped leg before wicket by Nathan Lyon for 31.
Crawley reached a well deserved fifty but fell to Scott Boland just before lunch for 61. Joe Root along with Harry Brook put on 51 runs for the fourth wicket stand. Brook got a reprieve on 24, when he top-edged a cut off Boland to deep backward point, where Travis Head dropped a catch diving forward.
Brook was dismissed in rather unlucky fashion as the ball bounced high in the air off Lyon and went on to hit the stumps for 32.
Josh Hazlewood struck a body blow by sending back skipper Ben Stokes (1), leaving the hosts in a spot of bother at 176/5.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow bailed the hosts out of trouble with a valuable 121 run stand for the sixth wicket before the latter was stumped by Carey off Lyon for a fine 78.
Moeen Ali who came out of test retirement whacked Pat Cummins for four and a six in one over. However he was stumped for 18, while trying to go after Lyon.
Stuart Broad (16) too was also bowled, while trying to take on Cameron Green. Root completed his 30th Test ton by tucking Lyon behind square for a single. The hosts eventually declared their innings at 393/8.
In response, Australia reached 14/0 in their 4 overs.
Stumps at the end of Day 1
Australia 14/0 trail England 393 for 8 dec (Root 118*, Bairstow 78, Crawley 61, Lyon 4-149) by 379 runs