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3rd over: Australia 7-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 4) Weatherald gets off the mark with a square cut close to his body that races away to the rope. England won’t mind the Australia opener attacking the ball in those areas. Carse straightens up his line and Weatherald looks fresh out of ideas as he lets one delivery crash into him and moves late to dodge a shorter ball.
2nd over: Australia 3-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 0) Matthew Potts takes the new ball in his Ashes debut. Head flicks a ball off his hips back in front of the wicket for a couple. A strange shot but it has paid off this time.
Updated at 23.20 EST
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Head 1, Weatherald 0) Brydon Carse immediately finds a bit of movement off the pitch and after Travis Head glances for a single it leaves Jake Weatherald in all sorts. The left-hander begins with a waft outside off-stump, then is rapped on the pads as Carse pitches the ball up ands narrowly outside his leg-stump. An unlikely appeal goes up and Weatherald sets off for an ambitious quick single but is rightly sent back by Head and only survives when the ping at the stumps sails wide. A chaotic start for the opener in his fifth Test who calls for fresh gloves and perhaps something to settle the nerves.
Travis Head and Jake Weatherald wander out from the glorified sheds at the SCG as Byrdon Carse marks out his run to prepare us for what should be a gripping final session. Here we go …
The Richies enjoying themselves at the SCG. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 23.17 EST
Chris Wright writes in to back Joe Roots efforts in Australia which now tally 1286 Test runs at an average 38.96.
“Joe Root now career-averaging 40 in Australia! It really never was the desert for runs people made it out to be for him, was it? He’d passed 50 nine times before this series, 80 three times. He had just lacked a century … and a win.”
Root now has two tons in Australia, and no reason to think he can’t help make it a pair of Ashes victories as well.
It feels like Australia worked their way back into the contest after taking the new ball when even the clinical Joe Root was limited to 21 runs from the 40 balls he faced in that period.
But that hasn’t doused the enthusiasm of David Banks who writes in from afar.
“Just messaging to say than you for all your work allowing me to follow the Ashes even from North Carolina, a world away from sun drenched Australia. Come on England!”
Travis Head was quick to ask the question as soon as Neser wrapped up the England innings and the players will take an early tea that would normally be another 20 minutes away. The Australia openers won’t mind avoiding the 2-3 overs they would otherwise have had to face, but they are set to have their work cut out when play does resume with the pitch offering more movement as the day has gone on.
ShareEngland all out for 384
Michael Neser knocks over Josh Tongue with the ball talking off the pitch. Australia have kept England to under 400 as the flow of runs dried up after the drinks break and as batting has become trickier throughout the day. Joe Root put on a clinic to reach 160 – his second ton and highest score in Australia. That’s tea as well.
Joe Root acknowledges the crowd after being dismissed for 160. Photograph: Robbie Stephenson/PAShare
Updated at 22.54 EST
WICKET! Root c & b Neser 160 (England 384-9)
Joe Root’s masterful knock comes to an end. It was always likely to need something special to send the centurion on his way. Michael Neser has Root popping up an awkward delivery, as the Australia quick charges across the pitch and dives to take a superb catch.
Michael Neser of Australia celebrates taking the wicket of Joe Root. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 22.51 EST
97th over: England 383-8 (Root 159, Potts 1) Root clips a single off the first ball of the over and puts all his faith in Potts to see off Green. The England batter ducks under a couple of shorter deliveries and is largely untroubled.
96th over: England 383-8 (Root 159, Potts 1) Michael Neser has the ball doing beautiful things but Matthew Potts is unable to even get a feather on it. Australia will of course be hoping to restrict England to under 400, but there are signs that the conditions are turning more and more in favour of the bowlers. Maiden over.
95th over: England 383-8 (Root 159, Potts 1) Cameron Green finally claims a wicket with a much better over to Carse and then Matthew Potts. The Ashes debutant picks up a single to square leg.
Updated at 22.36 EST
WICKET! Carse c Carey b Green 1 (England 382-8)
Cameron Green gets some bounce off a short-ish length and Brydon Carse can’t resist a dabble away from his body. Alex Carey takes a fine catch sliding across to his right but the celebrations are muted while the Australians wait to confirm that Green hasn’t overstepped again.
Cameron Green celebrates taking the wicket of Brydon Carse. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShare
Updated at 22.44 EST
94th over: England 382-7 (Root 159, Carse 1) Michael Neser works away at fifth stump but it will take more than that to remove Joe Root at this stage. The centurion picks up a couple of the back foot then eases singles through midwicket and straighter down the ground.
Updated at 22.34 EST
93rd over: England 378-7 (Root 156, Carse 0) Joe Root continues on his merry way with a trademark glance to fine leg for two runs then a single off the back foot. Brydon Carse sees out four dots from Cameron Green. The fast bowler might have got the memo that England are here to bat for at least most of the afternoon.
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Martin Pegan
Thanks Tanya. And how exciting to have some #proper Test cricket on our hands with an even battle between bat and ball and the former mostly on top for the time being. The Australia quicks have found plenty of movement since taking the new ball but Joe Root looks as calm and composed as he has on distant shores for more than a decade, while Will Jacks was hanging in there bravely until Scott Boland finally got some reward. The coming session and a half is likely to have a huge influence on the outcome of this series finale.
I’ll be guiding us through to stumps. Send me your predictions, thought bubbles and other musings with an email or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X.
ShareWICKET! Jacks c Green b Neser 27 (England 375-7)
After being batterered and bruised during a 62 ball vigil, Jacks gets a leading edge to Green in the gully. A breakthrough for Michael Neser in his first over after lunch. Time for me to go to bed now, thanks for all your many emails, sorry I couldn’t get to them all. Martin Pegan will guide you through to stumps. Good night!
92nd over: England 375-7 (Root 153)
Michael Neser dismisses Will Jacks. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 22.32 EST
91st over: England 374-6 (Root 152, Jacks 27) England have survived the first phase of the new ball. Cameron Green replaces Starc, can he find the control he had just before lunch? Just a single from it.
“Hi Tanya,” Hello Ben Barclay! “Why didn’t Stokes change his batting position to 7th or so to avoid Mitchell Starc?” I think Starc would come on whenever Stokes walked in, though, albeit, not always with the new ball. But it doesn’t feel very Stokes to try and escape the new ball. The players take drinks.
Updated at 22.38 EST
90th over: England 373-6 (Root 151, Jacks 27) Yesterday’s placid pitch is showing occasional spice. Boland gets one to leap from a length into another part of Jacks’ battered body.
Share150 for Root!
89th over: England 370-6 (Root 150, Jacks 25) On the sofa next to me, my son and dog sleep peacefully, unaware that England are slowly navigating their way to a promising position. Root narrows his eyes and sends Starc to point for a single to bring up 150. He raises his bat as the ground stand in appreciation.
Updated at 22.07 EST
88th over: England 365-6 (Root 146, Jacks 22) Boland, face streaked with suncream and sweat, is stretching every sinew. Jacks, who has only done himself good this tour, I think, though at 3am in the morning I can’t promise my memory is correct, is pure concentration. He plays and misses, leaves, is beaten. Rearranges himself and goes again.
87th over: England 365-6 (Root 146, Jacks 22) England doing exactly what we’ve been asking them to do here, seeing off the danger from the new ball. Starc fizzes with danger, but England survive.
Hello there Dave Espley in the Sydney sun.
“I’m sitting just to the left of the huge screen and have noticed something peculiar. The umpire at the Paddington End (not sure who it is, sorry) is standing a good few metres backward of square when the bowling is from the other end. I assume this is a thing now, and with TV deciding run outs and stumpings, there’s no need for him to be level with the crease, and he’s standing there to give himself more time to judge head high wides and is closer to the slips to see if stuff carries? Fair enough.
“Weirdly though, this umpire is also walking in with the fielders as the bowler approaches. Is he having flashbacks to his playing days? I do hope so because I’d pay a lot of money to see him forget himself, dive on the ball if they try a quick single and try and run someone out. Then, presumably, signal for a TV replay as the decision’s got nothing to do with him these days.”
I’m going to throw this umpire question over to the OBO floor.
86th over: England 363-6 (Root 146, Jacks 22) Boland continues Jacks’ doing-over, hitting him squarely on the box, zoning in on his back pad. Boland is interested in an lbw but the umpire says no, and Smith, after consultation, decides not to go for the review.
Jacks is hit by a delivery from Boland. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAPShare
Updated at 21.55 EST
85th over: England 362-6 (Root 144, Jacks 22) I think I could watch Mitchell Starc bowling every day for the rest of my life. Momentum meets intelligence meets physical perfection. Here he torments Root and Jacks – who gets squared up to the fifth ball and is hit by the last. But England press on.
84th over: England 361-6 (Root 144, Jacks 22) There’s a lunchtime buzz of noise around the SCG as Boland bounds in. Jacks puts his stamp on the first and sends it reeling through backward point for four.
83rd over: England 351-6 (Root 144, Jacks 18) Starc gets into his work. Teases Jacks with a wide one, then induces a leaden booted drive and miss. Jacks tucks four off his hips, that’ll do nicely.
82nd over: England 351-6 (Root 143, Jacks 13) Boland has found some nip off the pitch. Jacks defends or ignores. The flags on top of the beautiul green roof on the pavilion are softly billowing,
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81st over: England 347-6 (Root 139, Jacks 13) The Barmy Army call for celestial aid with a chorus of Hark the Herald Angels, as Starc stalks in from at least half a mile away. He arrows a yorker in to Root’s boots, who nearly topples over. Root wins the duel though, with four played with hands softer than a freshly scrambled egg.
80th over: England 347-6 (Root 139, Jacks 13) Four runs from Webster’s off spring, and here comes the new ball and that man with the fat white wrist bands.
ShareAfternoon session
79th over: England 342-6 (Root 138, Jacks 9) Labuschagne it is. Pink collar up, perky post lunch energy. Jacks swivels and top edges him into the crowd.
Will Jacks hits a six to get England moving after lunch on day two of the fifth Ashes Test. Photograph: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/ReutersShare
Updated at 21.22 EST
“I don’t really understand how Steve Finn (who I think usually excellent on the mic) sees a 50 over old ball jump, jag and take the edge of Ben Stokes’ bat and still describe it as a very good pitch,” writes Gary Naylor. “It doesn’t need to offer help every ball, but if enough misbehave, it’s in no way a very good pitch (for batting). This talk of 500 is fanciful surely?
Hello Gary Naylor! I just heard Alastair Cook say he thinks the ten o’clock rather than the 10.30 start means there was more help for the bowlers early on so that explains some of it. Definitely some balls keeping low just before lunch as well too.
And fascinating from Cook, who has noticed that Root emerged from the dressing room early after kybcg. Thinks it is because it is so dark in the changing rooms at the SCG, he has come out into the sun to give his eyes more time to adjust. And here come the players for the afternoon session.
Jamie Smith’s dismissal has irked readers into an email or two. Here are a few:
“Absolutely fewmin (as the kids say) about that Smith dismissal, writes Dave Espley. “Brainless cricket cost us a win in Perth (and a series-changing 1-0 lead) and it seems some of us have learned nothing. I’m a huge fan of Bazball as it’s transformed English cricket largely for the better in the last few years, but Bazball with a brain, please. Brainless Bazball is the worst.”
“That must be the worst Test dismissal I have ever seen. I have no words.” Flabbergasted and tired Reuben from London.
And Rowan Sweeney. “Let’s just all agree to switch bowler and fielder on that one eh? Boland would feel better, Smith would feel better, even Marnus might feel better.
Repeat after me: “Boland serves an absolute jaffa that Smith did well to nick, and Marnus took another blinder”
The bad news from the kitchen is that we have no more filter coffee so I’ve had to resort to the unpalatable coffee bags that my husband likes. While on TNT David Gower in an unbuttoned shirt gets out to Allan Border in highlights reels of 86-87, time to go through the emails.
A morning that belonged to the sublime Joe Root, but may be remembered for a brain fart by Smith. Time for me to grab more coffee, back very shortly.
ShareLunch England 336-6
78th over: England 336-6 (Root 138, Jacks 3) England survive the second of the devilish Australian spin twins, Travis Head and go into lunch, on top, led by the ever-calm, ever-classy Joe Root.
England’s Joe Root walks off the SCG at lunch on day two of the fifth Ashes Test after reaching an unbeaten 138 runs. Photograph: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/ReutersShare
Updated at 20.44 EST
77th over: England 327-6 (Root 132, Jacks 1) Labuschagne rushes in, an over-eager cocker spaniel bowling bouncers. He oversteps with his final ball, then Root pulls away at the last minute, before pulling a single from the eventual final delivery.
Updated at 20.41 EST
76th over: England 326-6 (Root 131, Jacks 1) Head trundles through an over.
Updated at 20.40 EST
75th over: England 323-6 (Root 129, Jacks 0) Labuschagne, brought in to hustle through the overs and tickle Smith’s ego, does exactly both in one over.
Updated at 20.40 EST
WICKET! Smith c Boland b Labuschagne 46 (England 323-6)
Oh dear. Smith has been caught, backing away from a Labuschagne shoulder high pie and slapping it away to deep extra cover where Boland gobbled it all up with double cream.
Marnus Labuschagne celebrates the dismissal of Jamie Smith in front of a raucous crowd at the SCG. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 20.42 EST
74th over: England 320-5 (Root 128, Smith 45) Eight from Travis Head’s over, including a reverse sweep-turned legit sweep as Root spots the ball drifting merrily down leg.
Updated at 20.40 EST
73rd over: England 312-5 (Root 122, Smith 43) A heat haze shimmers across the pitch. Boland weaves his spell, with the new ball in sight and lunch 15 minutes away.
Updated at 20.19 EST
72nd over: England 310-5 (Root 120, Smith 42) Smith reaches for the ace in his back pocket and calls up Travis Head. In his bounces – three from it.
Updated at 20.19 EST
71st over: England 307-5 (Root 119, Smith 41) Boland is back, and Root rolls him with rich January fruitfulness through mid-0n for three.
Updated at 20.19 EST
70th over: England 299-5 (Root 115, Smith 41) Smith shimmy and whips Webster for four through midwicket first ball, and plays out the rest of the over.
“How old is Michael Neser?” asks James Walsh. “He looks like one of the ripped fifty something men the social media algorithms seem to have decided I wish to ape. Also, do you know why the Australia fans wear KFC buckets upside down on their head? Is it a tribute to the Slash-replacing Guns & Roses guitarist Buckethead or a more subtle reference than I’m capable of identifying? It was quite strange to see a few amid the sea of Benauds.
“Can you tell it’s past my bedtime?” Ha! I see those ripped silver foxes, they are doing “Asian Pilates” with the svelte post menopausal women who haunt me.
Updated at 20.11 EST
69th over: England 299-5 (Root 115, Smith 37) Smith just cannot resist, heaves at Green again and the ball limps over mid on. Flashes at another and edges to deep backward point.
Updated at 20.08 EST
68th over: England 295-5 (Root 114, Smith 34) Time for Webster, earring in his left lobe, who promptly falls over in his delivery stride. Smith is initially watchful of his 125k allsorts. An on-drive is fantastically fielded by Khawaja.
Beau Webster hits the deck as he bowls at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShare
Updated at 20.11 EST
67th over: England 294-5 (Root 113, Smith 34) Green lollops in. He bounces Root, who turns his body into a C and pulls him stylishly for a single.
Updated at 20.05 EST
66th over: England 291-5 (Root 110, Smith 34) A reassuring Root boundary, off his pads, between midwicket and mid off.
Joe Root hits a boundary as England bat during day two of the fifth Ashes Test. Photograph: Morgan Hancock/CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 20.14 EST