Joe Root & Dawid Malan give England hope at the Gabba

Joe Root and Dawid Malan breathed life into the first Ashes Test against Australia with a defiant partnership of 159 on day three at the Gabba.

In a complete turnaround from England’s first-innings 147 all out, the third-wicket pair took the tourists to 220-2, 58 behind in Brisbane.

Captain Root moved to 86 not out, closing in on his first century in Australia and breaking the record for the number of runs scored by an England batter in a calendar year.

Malan is unbeaten on 80, on the verge of repeating the hundred he made in Perth on England’s last tour down under.

They came together after Rory Burns, who only avoided a pair by overturning being given lbw on nought, fell for 13 and Haseeb Hameed was out for 27.

Australia earlier moved their overnight 343-7 to 425 all out, Travis Head the last man dismissed for 152, reaching 150 from 143 balls – the third-fastest in Ashes history.

Ben Stokes was able to bowl for England having been declared fit from the jarred knee that restricted his involvement on day two.

Australia will have the second new ball available early on day four, providing England with their next obstacle to setting a competitive fourth-innings target. (BBC)