Perth — Dawid Malan struck England’s first century of the Ashes series as the tourists saw off Australia’s marauding pace attack to emerge on top of an enthralling first day of the third Test at the Waca on Thursday. The middle order batsman’s unbeaten 110 anchored a flourishing 174-run stand with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (75 not out). The pair pushed England to 305/4 at the close of a glorious day in Perth. England captain Joe Root and his predecessor Alastair Cook may have failed with the bat, but the skipper won perhaps the most important contest of the day when he guessed correctly at the toss and opted to bat first. Criticised for electing to bowl in the second Test defeat in Adelaide, Root was rewarded this time with three of his batsmen passing 50. "Tomorrow the first hour is crucial for us," Malan told reporters after celebrating his maiden ton in his eighth Test. "We’re going to have to be quite ruthless the way we play tomorrow morning and put them under pressure, get s...
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