Twitter Reactions: Joe Root's hundred, Nathan Lyon's four-fer keep opening game balanced at end of Day 1

The much-awaited Ashes 2023 finally got underway on Friday, June 16 as Australia and England locked horns in the first Test at Edgbaston. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first, as their opener Zak Crawley started the series in emphatic fashion. The right-handed batter drove Australian skipper Pat Cummins for a four through covers on the very first ball of the rivalry series.

Despite England’s positive approach, Australia managed to take an early wicket as Josh Hazlewood dismissed Ben Duckett (12) in the fourth over. Ollie Pope walked in at number three but lost his wicket after getting set at the crease, against Nathan Lyon for 31.

Crawley continued to bat positively and brought up his half-century, however, he failed to keep his innings going, getting dismissed at the stroke of lunch for 61 (73). Harry Brook (32 off 37) continued the ‘Bazball’ play post-lunch but lost his wicket in a bizarre fashion against Lyon. Captain Ben Stokes (1) got dismissed in the very next over, leaving England reeling at 176/5.

A 121-run stand between Jonny Bairstow (78 off 78) and Joe Root rescued the England innings. Bairstow missed out on a well-deserved hundred as he got stumped against Lyon. The senior spinner further got rid of Moeen Ali (18 off 17) who smacked two fours and a six in his brief innings to leave England on 323/7. 

Stuart Broad walked in next and played a good cameo of (16 off 21) to help England reach 350. On the other hand, Joe Root held one end and was nearing his hundred.

Joe Root scored his 30th hundred in Tests

He reached the landmark in the 76^th over of the day and brought up his 30^th Test century. After achieving the milestone, he smacked a couple of sixes before Stokes surprisingly declared the innings on 393/8. Root remained unbeaten on 118 (152) and got involved in an unbeaten 43-run stand with Ollie Robinson (17*).

Australian openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja walked out to the middle for a tricky half an hour and passed it unscathed as Australia got to stumps at 14/0 after 4 overs. Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions on the breathtaking Day 1 of the first Ashes Test.

Here are some of the Tweets: