England Gains Upper Hand with Half-Centuries by Root and Brook on Rain-Interrupted Ashes Opener

Joe Root and Harry Brook kept Australia’s pace attack at bay with an uninterrupted 154-run partnership, giving England the advantage after a rain-affected opening day of the fifth and final Ashes Test on Sunday.

After England captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first at the packed Sydney Cricket Ground, Root and Brook guided the visitors to 211-3, before poor light halted play shortly before the tea break. Further rain and lightning risks prevented any additional play.

The duo formed their partnership after England stumbled to 57-3, losing Ben Duckett (27), Zak Crawley (16), and Jacob Bethell (10) before the lunch break.

Ranked as the world’s top two batsmen, Root and Brook launched a counteroffensive on a favorable batting pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers, who struggled to make any breakthroughs in the second session.

Both batsmen reached well-earned half-centuries, continuing to score actively despite the approaching storm clouds.

Entering the match with confidence from their four-wicket victory in the previous Test in Melbourne, England aimed to maintain their momentum. This win had ended a 15-year winless run in Australia, although it came too late to salvage the series, as Australia retained the Ashes by winning in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

In an unexpected move, Australia included all-rounder Beau Webster instead of fast bowler Jhye Richardson, not selecting off-spinner Todd Murphy. This marked the first time in nearly 140 years that Australia played a Sydney Test without a frontline spinner.

England made one change, bringing in seamer Matthew Potts for the injured Gus Atkinson, while their leading slow bowler, Shoaib Bashir, missed out on selection for a fifth consecutive Test.

The day began with a tribute to the first responders of the Bondi mass shooting last month, which resulted in 15 fatalities. A hero of the event, Ahmed Al Ahmed, who stopped one of the shooters, was warmly cheered.

Duckett had a lively start, hitting five boundaries from Mitchell Starc to make a quick 27 off 24 balls. However, Starc ultimately got the better of him, inducing an outside edge that wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught with a full-stretch dive. This marked the fifth time Starc dismissed Duckett in the series.

Crawley was the next to go, trapped lbw by Michael Neser, leaving both openers out by the first drinks break, with the tourists in trouble at 51-2. Bethell, who looked tentative, was then dismissed after a gentle prod at a moving delivery from Scott Boland, with Carey making an easy catch as England slipped to 57-3.

Root’s arrival at the crease signaled the beginning of a recovery, with him and Brook rotating strikes efficiently and punishing loose deliveries. Root reached his 67th half-century and celebrated a 100-run partnership with a single off Webster, a milestone only surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar, who has 68 Test fifties.

Brook narrowly escaped on 45 when a chance off Starc landed between three fielders. Maintaining his composure, he hit a four through the covers four balls after Root’s milestone to reach his 15th half-century.

Published on January 4, 2026.