Published: January 5, 2026 at 2:12 pm
England’s Joe Root owned the second day of play at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. Root went level with Australian Ricky Ponting in equal-third in the all-time men’s Test century list, bringing up his 41st hundred before Travis Head led Australia’s fightback to leave the fifth Test finely poised.
Head was batting on 91 off 87 balls as the hosts were 166 for two at stumps. Earlier, England had scored 384 with Joe Root making a fine 160.
Root completely dominated the first half of the day to notch his 41st Test ton. In what might prove to be his final Test on Australian soil, Root was the ninth wicket to fall in a 242-ball masterpiece to sit nicely alongside his drought-breaking Ashes tour century in Brisbane. He led England to a solid first-innings total but by stumps it felt rather underwhelming after Head responded in typically aggressive fashion.
Root and Harry Brooks had made batting appear relatively easy on day one, but the SCG surface quickened up overnight with rearing bounce proving a headache for batters. Root thwarted the home side’s seam-heavy attack with assured batting, but England could not quite capitalise after losing four for nine to be bowled out for 384.
Michael Neser, who had been perhaps under-utilised, wrapped up England’s innings quickly and finished with 4 for 60 from 18.3 overs, highlighted by a brilliant return catch to finally dismiss Root after diving full stretch.
England needed to be disciplined with ball and in the field amid increasingly overcast conditions, but they weren’t, with Brydon Carse unable to back up his rousing effort in favourable conditions at the MCG while Matthew Potts was nervous in his Ashes debut and leaked 25 runs off his first three overs.
Potts was unlucky when Jake Weatherald on 9 slashed to a leaping Root, who could not hang on high above his head at first slip. Weatherald then on 14 was dropped by Ben Duckett in a straightforward chance at forward square to leave Carse feeling despondent.
While Head was making England pay for their wayward lengths, Weatherald was having a much more difficult time. Weatherald tried to blast himself out of trouble but never looked settled and on 21 was trapped lbw by a full delivery from Ben Stokes that was reminiscent of some of his dismissals earlier in the series.
Marnus Labuschagne’s form has also been questioned having tapered off as the series has worn on. But he was not tested by the inconsistent England bowlers while Head became the first player since Steven Smith in 2019 to make 500 runs in an Ashes series.
He hit consecutive fours to reach his half-century off 55 balls while Labuschagne was in fluent touch. But Labuschagne lost concentration and on 48 edged to gully much to the delight of Stokes after they had moments earlier engaged in a war of words.
There was not enough time for Head to reach his century with stumps called one ball into the last over after rain fell following a halt in play when Neser, the nightwatcher, was hit in the elbow by Stokes.
England would have been hoping to be in stronger position when the day’s play started 30 minutes early with the tourists resuming at 211 for 3. But their plans were in disarray when Brook and Stokes fell.
Smith had started by setting defensive fields in a bid to frustrate Brook, who had mostly shown uncharacteristic restraint on day one. Root and Brook soon notched the highest partnership of the series from either team, surpassing the 162-run stand by Head and Alex Carey in Adelaide.
But Brook let slip a golden opportunity for a maiden Ashes century, falling tamely on 84 when he edged Scott Boland to Smith at first slip having unconvincingly hung his bat out. It was Brook’s sixth unconverted half-century in Ashes cricket.
The sight of Stokes entering the crease seemingly rejuvenated nemesis Mitchell Starc, who was ragged on day one by his lofty series standards. Starc was again all over Stokes and delivered an absolute pearler of a delivery that sprung from a length and had him nicking off for an 11-ball duck in an overturned decision. It was the fifth time he had dismissed Stokes in the series and 14th overall in Test cricket.
Not for the first time, England were in danger of letting slip an advantageous position. Jamie Smith, however, was not intent on a cautious rebuild in a bizarre yet relatively fruitful knock of 46 in a vital 94-run partnership with Root.
Root was in imperious form although had a nervous moment on 94 when his favoured guide skewed over first and second slip. But soon enough Root was pumping his fists after notching his first away Ashes century in a red-ball match.
Smith, meanwhile, rode his luck as he mixed powerful strokes with moments of madness. In what should have been a relatively easy period of batting, almost inevitably, Smith gave it away when he hit a rank delivery dug into the pitch by Labuschagne straight to deep cover.
Will Jacks proved more sensible as he played his part in an invaluable 52-run partnership with Root, who for the 17th time in his career reached 150. England appeared well on their way to roll past 400 but Neser proved almost unplayable with the second new ball as Root trudged off the field to a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd of 46,586.
Brief scores: England 384 (Joe Root 160, Harry Brook 84; Michael Neser 4/60) vs Australia 166/2 (Travis Head 91 batting; Stokes 2/30).
