Root scores 160 but England fail to make most of promising start to their batting innings while failing with the ball.
Joe Root and Travis Head put up amazing performances on a second day that featured some of the puzzling cricket that has been all too often this series, and it looks like the Ashes decider will last a long time.
After Root’s 160 and Head’s undefeated 91 off 87 balls took the stage at the SCG, the fifth Test will go into at least the fourth and perhaps a fifth day.
Due to Sydney’s typical unpredictable weather at this time of year, the opening day’s play was shortened to 45 overs. Root dominated the first half of the day to reach his 41st Test century and tie Ricky Ponting for third position on the all-time century list.
Root was the ninth wicket to fall in a 242-ball masterpiece that would go well with his drought-breaking Ashes tour century in Brisbane in what may turn out to be his last Test match on Australian soil.
He guided England to a respectable first-innings score, but given Head’s usual robust response, it felt a little lacklustre by stumps.
On day one, Root and Harry Brook had made batting seem somewhat simple, but the SCG surface accelerated overnight, giving batters a headache due to rearing bounce. With confident batting, Root stopped Australia’s seam-heavy attack, but England was bowled out for 384 after losing 4 for 9.
England needed to be disciplined with the ball and on the pitch in the increasingly cloudy conditions after leaving some runs on the table. However, they weren’t, as Matthew Potts was anxious in his Ashes debut and let up 25 runs off his first three overs, while Brydon Carse failed to maintain his impressive performance in favourable circumstances at the MCG.
When Jake Weatherald cut to a leaping Root on 9, Potts was unlucky because Root was unable to hang on high above his head at the first slip. Carse was devastated when Weatherald was dropped by Ben Duckett on 14 in a clear opportunity at forward square.
Weatherald was struggling to hold onto a spot in the team following a lacklustre series thus far, while Head was making England pay for their reckless lengths.
Weatherald attempted to blast himself out of danger, but he never appeared to settle. On 21, Ben Stokes’ full delivery, which was reminiscent of some of his dismissals earlier in the series, trapped Weatherald lbw.
As the series has progressed, Marnus Labuschagne’s form has also been called into doubt. Head became the first player to score 500 runs in an Ashes series since Steven Smith in 2019, but the erratic England bowlers did not test him.
While Labuschagne was in fluid form, he reached his half-century off 55 balls by hitting successive fours. However, Labuschagne lost focus and, much to Stokes’ delight, edged to gully on 48 after they had moments earlier engaged in a war of words.
After play was halted when Neser, the nightwatcher, was struck in the elbow by Stokes, rain fell and Head was unable to complete his century with stumps called one ball into the last over.
For England, who had been struggling much like previously in the series, Labuschagne’s late wicket was a much-needed boost. Root spent the remainder of the day off the pitch due to what appeared to be a back spasm, which made matters worse even though he was well enough to handle media obligations following the game.