Watch: Joe Root takes stunning return catch off his bowling to dismiss Alex Carey during 1st Test of Ashes 2023

The dangerous Alex Carey was removed by the former England captain Joe Root on Day 5 in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Tuesday. The Australian keeper-batter slammed it back to the bowler, but the 32-year-old held on to a difficult caught and bowled opportunity, dropping the visitors to 227-8 in pursuit of 281.

The dismissal occurred in the 81st over during the innings when England skipper Ben Stokes chose to keep using the old ball in spite of the availability of the new cherry. Carey slammed the ball after charging down the track for a full one, but Root caught it and hung on to it. The Yorkshire cricketer has already missed a few opportunities before grabbing onto this one. When the day began, Australia was 107-3 and needed 174 more runs to clinch the first Test. After a lengthy delay owing to rain, the Australians lost nightwatchman Scott Boland as well as Travis Head in the opening session.

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Usman Khawaja, on the other hand, persevered like a rock and had two great partnerships alongside Cameron Green as well as Carey. Khawaja’s innings was terminated by Stokes, who sent him home for 65 off 197 after he hit seven extra-base hits. Australia won the first Test of the five-match Ashes series with an incredible two-wicket victory at the Edgbaston ground. Pat Cummins (44*), the skipper, delivered a captain’s knock in the 281-run pursuit. The visitors experienced some difficulty throughout the run-chase. At 209/7, the squad was in peril as Cummins paired Alex Carey. 

Australia had just lost the crucial wicket of hot batter Usman Khawaja (65), but Cummins remained composed under duress, forging partnerships with Carey who was dismissed by a stunning Root catch when he was at 20 as well as Lyon who stayed not-out at 16, which helped the Aussies win with a vengeance. This win would give the Australian team enough confidence going into the other matches of the series. Australia now travel to London to play the second Test of the series at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground.