Dawid Malan and Joe Root joined forces for a rebuilding act as England reached 107/2 in 36 overs at tea on day three of first Ashes Test at The Gabba here on Friday. The tourists are still trailing by 171 runs after bowling out Australia for 425 in the morning session and losing their opening pair of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed.

Resuming from 23/0 at lunch, Australia skipper Pat Cummins struck in the first over as Rory Burns tried to cut but the short ball took the glove edge behind to keeper Alex Carey. Malan was tentative in the beginning but Haseeb Hameed looked set for a big score before getting strangled down leg off Mitchell Starc in the 21st over.