Brisbane: Joe Root might easily have made a hundred in just his second Test match in Australia had it not been for Nathan Lyon.

At Adelaide Oval in December 2013, a 22-year-old Root fought his way to 87 against Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, only to squeeze a bat pad catch off Lyon just when it looked like he was destined for three figures.

Finally a century for Joe Root in Australia.Credit: Getty Images

While Lyon has not always been the most difficult of Root’s opponents on these shores, his absence from a home Test for the first time since January 2012 helped give the former England captain enough latitude to finally forge that breakthrough century, 12 years and 26 innings later.

It was a moment to savour at a floodlit Gabba, as Root’s innings gave England a foothold in the match and the series after defeat in two days in Perth. He also ensured that Matthew Hayden would not have to follow through on his promise to run nude around the MCG if Root did not finally reach a hundred in Australia, which will be a relief to all.

At the same time, Root’s hundred and Zak Crawley’s punchy 76 placed a firm spotlight on Lyon’s absence, as England finished day one at the Gabba with an unbroken 10th wicket partnership of 66 that carried them to 9-325 at stumps.

Many of Australia’s dog days in the second half of the 2023 Ashes series in England took place without Lyon.

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