England’s premier batter Joe Root delivered a masterclass at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Monday, scoring a majestic 160 to anchor England’s first-innings total of 384 in the fifth and final Ashes Test. However, Australia’s Travis Head quickly shifted the momentum, blasting an unbeaten 91 to leave the match evenly poised at the end of Day 2.
Joe Root Reaches Rare Air
Root’s innings was not just a rescue act for England but a historic milestone. By reaching his 41st Test century, he drew level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting for the third-most hundreds in Test history. Only Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) now stand ahead of him.
The 35-year-old’s 242-ball knock was a display of sheer technical brilliance, especially considering his previous struggles to reach three figures on Australian soil. His marathon effort finally ended when Michael Neser pulled off a spectacular diving caught-and-bowled. Neser was the pick of the Australian bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 4-60.
Australia’s Aggressive Response
Faced with a challenging total, Australia’s openers took a contrasting approach. Travis Head, continuing his prolific form this series, reached his half-century in just 55 balls. At stumps, he remained unbeaten on 91 from 87 deliveries, striking 15 boundaries and nearing what would be his third century of the series.
- The Breakthroughs: Ben Stokes provided much-needed breakthroughs for England, trapping debutant Jake Weatherald (21) lbw and later dismissing a well-set Marnus Labuschagne (48), who edged to gully just before the close of play.
- Scoreboard: Australia ended the day at 166-2, trailing England by 218 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Day 2 Summary
England resumed the day at 211-3 but faced a middle-order wobble. Harry Brook fell early for 84, followed by captain Ben Stokes for a duck. It was Root’s 169-run partnership with Brook (the highest for any team this series) and his late 54-run stand with Will Jacks (27) that propelled England toward a competitive total.
While Australia has already retained the Ashes with a 3-1 lead, England is fighting to level the series following their Boxing Day victory in Melbourne. With the pitch at the SCG showing signs of inconsistent bounce, the third day promises a high-octane battle between Head’s aggression and England’s disciplined bowling.