England's experienced campaigner Joe Root and the promising Harry Brook led a vital fightback for the visitors after a shaky start on the opening day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. At the lunch break, England had reached 114 for 3, with Root unbeaten on a solid 31 and Brook providing steady support on 23.
Top Order Collapse Puts England on the Back Foot
Choosing to bat first in front of a packed SCG, England's top order failed to capitalise on a good batting surface. The aggressive Ben Duckett looked in fine touch, racing to 27 off just 24 balls with five boundaries, but his nemesis Mitchell Starc struck again. The left-arm pacer angled one across, finding Duckett's outside edge, which was brilliantly taken by a stretching Alex Carey. This marked the fifth time Starc has dismissed Duckett in this series.
Zak Crawley followed soon after, trapped plumb in front by Michael Neser for 16. Despite a futile review, England were reduced to 51 for 2. The young Jacob Bethell struggled during a cautious 10-run knock, taking 15 deliveries to get off the mark. He eventually nicked a moving delivery from Scott Boland to Carey, leaving England in a precarious position at 57 for 3.
Root and Brook Forge Crucial Partnership
With their backs against the wall, Joe Root and Harry Brook dug deep. The pair showed immense patience and application, carefully negotiating the Australian attack to stage a recovery. They added an unbroken 57-run stand for the fourth wicket, guiding England safely to the lunch interval without further damage. Their partnership has provided the platform England desperately needed after the early setbacks.
England entered this final Test with momentum from a morale-boosting four-wicket victory inside two days in the previous Test in Melbourne. That win ended a 15-year drought for England on Australian soil. However, it came too late to salvage the Ashes urn, which Australia had already retained with victories in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
Surprising Team Selections from Australia
Australia sprung a major selection surprise ahead of the Sydney Test. They handed an opportunity to all-rounder Beau Webster, bringing him in for fast bowler Jhye Richardson. In a more historic move, they left out off-spinner Todd Murphy. This decision meant Australia fielded a side without a specialist spinner in a Sydney Test for the first time in nearly 140 years.
England, meanwhile, made one forced change, bringing in seamer Matthew Potts to replace the injured Gus Atkinson.
The day's play began on a sombre and respectful note, with a moving tribute paid to the first responders of the recent Bondi mass shooting that claimed 15 lives. The SCG crowd erupted in loud and emotional applause when hero Ahmed Al Ahmed, who confronted one of the attackers, was acknowledged.
