Joe Root injured in warm-up during Perth Ashes Test; panic in England camp

Former England skipper Joe Root hurt his ankle ahead of Day 2 (Saturday, November 22) of the first Ashes 2025-26 Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The ace batter, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, will be crucial for the team as they look to set a challenging target for Australia.

Root survived only seven balls before edging to Marnus Labuschagne in the slips off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. The right-handed batter was at the crease for just 10 minutes. He showed the tension of the first morning of an Ashes series. The visiting team managed to score only 172 runs in their first innings in Perth.

Watch: Joe Root's Injury Scare in Warm-ups

During the pre-match warm-up session, England had an injury concern when Joe Root appeared to sustain an injury while playing football. He went down clutching his left ankle, causing worry for the team and viewers.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Root was clearly in pain after the incident and was seen limping as he got back on his feet. The unexpected potential injury to a key player like Root, right before the start of the day’s play, created significant anxiety for the England camp.

Fortunately, the situation appeared to ease quickly. The commentator provided an immediate update, stating, "This is what happened. We all held our breath slightly. But luckily, he seems to get off, he seems to shake it off and he seems to be alright."

A potential injury to Joe Root in the warmup before play today 😬

Thankfully, he looks okay 🙏

📺 Watch #TheAshes LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/oG9OCFrK84

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) November 22, 2025

Joe Root Adds Another Unwanted Entry to His Ashes Record

Joe Root added another unwanted entry to his Ashes record. It was his sixth duck against Australia and his third on Australian soil. Notably, he also began his 2021-22 campaign with a zero at the Gabba after nine balls, when Josh Hazlewood dismissed him.

Before this series, many expected Root to improve his record in Australia. He had enjoyed three outstanding years, averaging above 50 from 2023 to 2025.

The two bowlers who have troubled him the most, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, were not part of the attack for the ongoing Test. It is worth mentioning that Cummins and Hazlewood have dismissed Root 11 and 10 times, respectively.

Australia Bowled Out for 132 in the First Innings on Day 2

Ben Stokes chose to bat after winning the toss. Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc ran through the visitors with figures of 7 for 58 in 12.5 overs, helping Australia dismiss England for just 172.

Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, and Ben Duckett were the only batters to reach double figures. Debutant Brendan Doggett chipped in with two wickets in the first innings.

Stokes then took 5 for 23 to bring England back into the contest. The home team finished the opening day struggling at 123 for 9, with Nathan Lyon and Brendan Doggett at the crease.

England wrapped up Australia’s innings early on the second morning. They returned to bat and reached 59 for 1 by lunch. Joe Root was not needed during the first session as England lost just one wicket.

Also read: T20 World Cup 2026 final to take place in Ahmedabad; India vs Pakistan clash set for this venue