BRISBANE: England’s batters, Joe Root and Dawid Malan partnered strongly to help their side back into the game on day three of the first Ashes Test, here on Friday.

Root and Malan showed valiant batting display, the pair put on an unbeaten 159 runs partnership to end the third day on a high.

In response to Australia’s 425, English openers again failed to provide a solid start to the side, losing the first wicket on just 23. Rory Burns failed to get going, dismissed on 13 by Pat Cummins.

Soon after, Haseeb Hameed also fell short and the batter got out on 27 by Mitchell Starc. English team appeared to be in trouble, losing two wickets for just 61. Root and Malan, however, took responsibility and showed grit. Both the batters scored unbeaten half-centuries before the stumps on day three.

Root scored 86 runs laced with 10 boundaries, while Malan, too, was impressive, scoring 80 runs including as many boundaries as his batting partner. The pair will now resume the innings for England at 220/2 on the fourth day.

During his valiant innings, Root has also achieved the record of scoring most runs (1,541*) scored by an English batter in a calendar year, breaking the record of Michael Vaughn who scored 1,481 runs in 2002.

Earlier, Australia resumed their innings at 343/7, kept the momentum, adding 48 runs before losing their eighth wicket. Starc was dismissed on a brilliant 35.

Australian centurion, Travis Head, however, kept going and went on to score 152 before being dismissed by Mark Wood. Head remained the top scorer for the Kangaroos in the first innings.

Australian batting tale also made small contributions to help their side amass a massive total of 425.

Wood and Ollie Robinson each got three wickets for England. Chris Woakes took two wickets in the first innings. Jack Leach and Root, on the other hand, both took one wicket.

READ: Head’s century puts Australia on top