Mitchell Starc versus England and so far it isn’t a contest. Joe Root may briefly have thought his luck has turned in Australia when he narrowly avoided being run out at the non-striker’s end, but he was unable to cope with Starc’s superb line and the bounce on offer in Perth.
Usually in Australia, it’s been the ball on fourth or fifth stump that has troubled Root, but this time he was squared up by a straighter delivery to which he offered a slightly closed bat face. Big disappointment for Root, big wicket for Starc.
It’s usually been Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood who has troubled Joe Root the most. Cummins has dismissed him 11 times at an average of 26.45, and Hazlewood 10 at 31.9.
He has been on top of Starc, out eight times at an average of 44. Today, he faced all seven of his deliveries to Starc for no score.
This was shaping as his best chance to for a breakthrough century on Australian soil. He will have to wait.
England: 3-46 (Pope 18*, Brook 3*) lead by 36 runs
