England's batting maestro Joe Root has found himself in an unwanted club alongside Indian superstar Virat Kohli after a disastrous start to the 2025 Ashes series against Australia. The veteran batsman's early struggles at the Gabba have etched his name alongside Kohli in a record both would prefer to avoid.
Dismal Start in Brisbane Haunts Root
The first Test at Brisbane's Gabba witnessed a shocking collapse from the English batting lineup, with Joe Root at the center of the disappointment. Root managed scores of just 10 and 15 in his two innings, failing to provide the stability England desperately needed from their most experienced batsman.
This poor performance marked a significant milestone for the 34-year-old, who now shares an embarrassing record with former Indian captain Virat Kohli. Both modern batting greats have now been dismissed for 15 runs or fewer in six consecutive Test innings against Australia, highlighting their particular struggles against the fierce Australian bowling attack.
The Unwanted Elite Club
Root's inclusion in this dubious list places him alongside Kohli in a statistical category neither batsman would have imagined during their peak years. The English captain's sequence of low scores against Australia began during the previous Ashes series and has continued into the current campaign.
Virat Kohli experienced his own nightmare run against Australia during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he struggled to reach substantial scores before returning home for the birth of his child. Now Root has matched that unwanted streak, creating an unexpected parallel between two of contemporary cricket's biggest names.
Broader Context of England's Batting Collapse
Root's personal struggles were part of a larger batting failure for the visiting English team. England was bowled out for a meager 239 in their first innings, with only Ben Duckett offering substantial resistance with his 79-run contribution. The second innings proved even more disastrous as the tourists collapsed to 149 all out.
Australia's pace attack, led by their formidable bowling unit, exploited the conditions perfectly at the Gabba. The home team capitalized on England's batting vulnerabilities, with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood causing particular problems for the English top order throughout the match.
The comprehensive victory for Australia by 169 runs gives them a crucial 1-0 lead in the five-match series. For England and Joe Root personally, the performance raises serious questions about their ability to compete in Australian conditions and whether the veteran batsman can rediscover his form against quality pace bowling.
As the teams prepare for the second Test, all eyes will be on whether Root can break this unwanted streak and join the ranks of batsmen who have overcome similar slumps against Australia. The comparison with Kohli serves as both a warning and inspiration - the Indian star eventually found his way back to form, and England will hope their premier batsman can do the same.
