Watch: Joe Root started day four of the first Ashes Test in remarkable fashion, attempting three reverse scoops off the first seven balls he faced, two of which resulted in boundaries.

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The first Ashes Test is evenly poised as England started day four with a lead of 35 runs and eight wickets in hand. After a rain-curtailed day three where they lost two quick wickets under gloomy conditions, one would have expected Joe Root and Ollie Pope, the overnight not-out batters, to come out and get their eyes in before going about their attacking brand of cricket.

However, Root was in no mood to waste any time at all. Having scored an unbeaten century in the first innings and having mastered the reverse ramp over the slip cordon off fast bowlers, Root’s confidence in his go-to shot shone through as he brought out a flurry of reverse scoops inside the first few balls he faced, taking the Australians, and everyone watching for that matter, by surprise.

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Cummins ran in to bowl the first ball of the day and was met with an attempted reverse scoop. Root missed it as it passed close to the top of his off stump.

He was not going to back down though. Boland came on from the other end and was treated to the same shot, not once, but twice. Both those attempts resulted in boundaries, with the first one going for six and the second for a four.

England have got off to a rollicking start courtesy some brave batting from Root.

Watch Root attempt three reverse scoops in his first seven balls on Day Four

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AustraliaEngland Joe RootPat CumminsScott Boland2023-2025 World Test ChampionshipAshesEngland v AustraliaMatch CoverageSeries EditorialVideos