England star Joe Root has taken the plaque for one of the most unwanted records in cricket from India’s legendary former captain Kapil Dev. As England succumbed to a huge eight-wicket defeat at the Gabba, Brisbane, Root recorded his 16th Test in Australia without a win, going past Dev’s record of 15 in Pakistan.
No other cricketer has matched the two of them in most matches in a country without a win. Like Root in Australia, Dev’s personal record in Pakistan was also underwhelming, with 548 runs in 22 innings at an average of 26.10 to go with 44 wickets at 40.02 apiece (his second-worst average for any country he played in).
Root’s 16th loss was hardly his doing, though.
England, who had suffered a two-day defeat in Perth in the opening Test, were
again outclassed at the Gabba. Their batting faltered on the lively surface, with only a handful of players offering resistance across both innings — one of them was Root, who scored his first Test century down under in the first innings.
Otherwise, poor shot selection, a failure to adjust to conditions, and a series of misjudgements contributed to England’s downfall. Their bowling lacked discipline as well, particularly with the new pink ball, which Australia exploited.
Fielding proved another stark contrast between the sides. England dropped five catches in Australia’s first innings, enabling the hosts to push their total to 511 and build a crucial 177-run lead.
Australia, by contrast, held every opportunity and even converted half-chances, like the pivotal moment when Josh Inglis ran out Ben Stokes in the first innings, which shifted momentum heavily toward the home side.
England resumed on 134 for 6 on the fourth morning, still 43 runs behind, but a determined partnership between Stokes and Will Jacks briefly revived their hopes. The pair adopted a measured approach, neutralising the Australian attack for much of the first two sessions and eventually edging England into a modest lead.
Their resistance ended when Michael Neser removed both set batters in quick succession during a decisive spell that earned him a career-best 5 for 42. The final three wickets fell cheaply, leaving Australia with a manageable target.
Although the hosts lost two wickets in the chase, a belligerent Steve Smith and Jake Weatherald guided them home without alarm. The emphatic finish underlined Australia’s control throughout the match and strengthened their grip on the urn, with Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney still to come.
