Joe Root set a record for most runs in a calendar year by an England Test batter and shared an unbroken 159-run stand with Dawid Malan on Friday to lead a rally in the Ashes series opener against Australia. Root was unbeaten on 86 and Malan was 80 not out when England reached 220-2 at stumps on Day Three. The England skipper has 1,541 runs so far in 2021, beating Michael Vaughan’s record of 1,481 runs in 2002. Mohammad Yousuf holds the Test record with his 1,788 runs in 11 matches for Pakistan in 2006.

England is still 58 runs behind. But after being dismissed for 147 on Day One and conceding a 278-run first-innings deficit, the third-wicket pair finally gave England a session of dominance. Root faced 158 deliveries, hit 10 boundaries and was one run shy of his highest previous score in an Ashes Down Under. Malan faced 177 deliveries as the pair got through almost two full sessions.