Rain Checks England’s Impressive Progress

Joe Root and Harry Brook shared an unbroken 154 run partnership to rescue England on day one of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

The Yorkshire pair guided England to 211 – 3, with Root making 72* and Brook 78*, before a combination of rain and bad light curtailed proceedings, after only 45 overs play.

They came together with the tourists in a spot of bother once again this series, as they had slumped to 57 – 3, despite captain Ben Stokes winning the toss and electing to bat first.

However, both Root and Brook initially showed the restraint that this England side have often been criticised for lacking, as they guided England to 114 – 3 at lunch.

Root was particularly fluent through the offside, driving nicely through the covers and punishing Australia whenever they dropped short, with several, beautiful late cuts.

The runs continued to flow after the lunch interval, with Root continuing on his merry way and Brook managing to combine the sublime with the ridiculous in equal measure.

As Root serenely passed 50, Brook was also able to reach the same landmark, albeit in slightly more unorthodox fashion.

After surviving a couple of top edges when Australia moved to the short ball ploy, he thrashed emphatically through the covers and also cut loose later on with a pull over deep square leg for six off Cameron Green.

Prior to the Root and Brook partnership, England’s top order had again failed to make the most of positive starts.

Ben Duckett (27) found the boundary regularly in his 24 ball cameo, before fending a Mitchell Starc delivery through to the diving Alex Carey.

Zak Crawley (16) then played all around his front pad to be dismissed LBW by Michael Neser and Jacob Bethell (10) also feathered through to Carey off Scott Boland.

Despite this shaky start, Australia were ultimately the happier of the two sides, when the rain and bad light set in, ultimately curtailing the day prematurely, as their all seam attack had been made to toil on a humid day and relatively placid wicket.

Given the loss of overs, play will start half an hour earlier tomorrow, with 98 overs scheduled for the day, as England’s two best batters will hope to pick up where they left off on day one and bat their side into a dominant position.

Guerilla Match Moments:

Big Moment: Harry Brook skied an attempted pull, but the ball landed between three fielders, and he was able to continue to score freely.

Star of the Day: Joe Root, who once again proved that he is always a man that England can turn to in a crisis with a controlled 72*.

Whoops, can I try that again?: Ben Duckett looked good once again, only to fend at a Mitchell Starc delivery that he probably could have left.