Joe Root and Harry Brook’s unbeaten 154-run partnership helped England survive an early collapse, recovering from 57/3 to reach 211/3 before bad weather halted play at the stroke of tea. Early stumps were called due to rain and lightning.
Only 45 overs of play were possible on Day 1 of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with dark clouds gathering as the afternoon progressed. Persistent rain arrived shortly before the scheduled tea break, prompting officials to call early stumps with England well positioned heading into Day 2.
After captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat, England capitalized on the first day of the New Year’s Ashes Test by establishing an unbroken partnership of over a hundred runs between Root and Brook.
This partnership neutralized Australia’s all-pace bowling attack, marking the first time since 1888 that Australia did not include a strike spinner in a Test match at the SCG.
England’s innings began cautiously, as openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett adopted a measured approach against the new ball. Their 35-run stand ended in the seventh over when Mitchell Starc claimed his 27th wicket of the series, removing Duckett, who edged a wide outswinger to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Crawley followed soon after, trapped lbw by an in-ducker from Michael Neser for 16, despite a desperate review. In the next over, Jacob Bethell was undone by Scott Boland, feathering a delivery that jagged away to depart for 10, leaving England reeling at 57 for 3.
Root and Brook then dug in to steady the innings, absorbing early pressure before gradually shifting momentum. As the pitch eased, Australia’s quicks struggled to find consistency.
Root capitalized on width with trademark cuts and drives, while Brook countered Australia’s short-ball tactics with confidence. The duo brought up their respective half-centuries in the same over, with Root scoring off 65 balls and Brook off 63, registering England’s highest partnership of the series and swinging the contest firmly in the visitors’ favor.
Brief scores: England 211/3 (Harry Brook 78, Joe Root 72; Michael Neser 1-36, Scott Boland 1-48) against Australia.