NEW DELHI: Former England pacer Stuart Broad's reaction after Joe Root was dismissed by Australian speedster Mitchell Starc in the second innings of the first Ashes Test went viral, as the batter's dismissal left him visibly gutted.

Broad has now reflected on the viral moment, explaining that his expression was entirely genuine and born out of disappointment. In the commentary box, he shut his eyes in frustration after Root's dismissal, while sitting beside a delighted Matthew Hayden.

"I think that was exactly how every England cricket fan felt, if I'm honest. You just wanted to close your eyes for 10 seconds and just hope it wasn't true, what you were watching. That got clipped up and put on social media and turned into a bit of a GIF," Broad told Sydney Morning Herald.

"I think that's a genuine reaction and emotion, and that's why we love Ashes cricket so much because it brings that emotion out of you, whether you're Australian or English. The game was moving every hour, and you didn't know what was going to happen," he added.

"If the cricket continues with that pace and velocity and emotion, we're in for a great summer, but England just need to grab those moments in the game slightly better," said Broad.

Set 205 to win, Travis Head plundered 123 from 83 balls, clobbering boundaries to all parts of the ground as he hit the rope 16 times and cleared it on four occasions. Australian media reported it was the first time since 1921 that an Ashes Test was won in two days.

How momentum shifted

England were on top for most of the first four sessions but lost control with a batting collapse after the lunch interval on Day 2.

Ben Stokes won the toss, batted and England was skittled for 172, with veteran Australian paceman Mitchell Starc leading an under-strength bowling attack with a career-best 7-58.

Australia were then bowled out for 132, giving England a 40-run first innings lead, with Stokes snaring a five-wicket haul after some early fireworks from express bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.

In their second innings, England was cruising at 65-1 until the big momentum shift. From 76-2, England lost three wickets without scoring and slid to be all out for 164.

That left Australia with 3 1/3 days to chase a modest victory target. Head achieved it in one session with the third-fastest Test century ever by an Australian.