Root and Brook Punish Australia's Spinner-Less XI at SCG.

Aussies' 140-Year All-Pace Gamble Backfires as Root & Brook Dominate Rain-Hit SCG Day.

                            Aussies' All-Pace Gamble Backfires as Root and Brook Dominate Rain-Hit SCG Day.
Key Takeaways
England were 211-3 after 45 overs when bad light and storms stopped play on Day 1 of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG on 4 January 2026.

Joe Root (72*) and Harry Brook (78*) shared an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 154.

Australia left out specialist spinner Todd Murphy, the first time they have played an SCG Test without one since 1887-88.

Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser and Scott Boland gave Australia an early lift, reducing England to 57-3.

The crowd, dressed in pink for the McGrath Foundation, booed as the umpires took the players off.

Introduction

England took control of the final Ashes Test on a dramatic first day at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Joe Root and Harry Brook dismantled Australia's bold, and increasingly criticised, all-pace attack.

By the time the umpires halted play for bad light and approaching storms, England had reached 211-3, thanks to an unbeaten 154-run fourth-wicket partnership that exposed the hosts' historic selection gamble.

Captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat on a pitch that looked lively with grass but flattened out under sunny skies. Australia's seamers struck early, justifying their decision to go without a specialist spinner, but Root and Brook turned the screws in a commanding afternoon session.

Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed and the covers came on. Boos rang around the ground as umpires Chris Gaffaney and Ahsan Raza led the players off for an early tea. It was a grim but unavoidable call, and it denied England further momentum.

The 138-Year Gamble: Australia's Spinner-Less XI

Acting captain Steve Smith named a side with five seam options: Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Cameron Green and all-rounder Beau Webster. There was no room for off-spinner Todd Murphy. It was the first time Australia had fielded an XI at the SCG without a specialist spinner since 1887-88, breaking with the venue's long tradition of offering turn.

Smith defended the call by pointing to the green-tinged surface and the seam movement on offer. As Root and Brook flourished, however, former players lined up to criticise it, with Jason Gillespie calling it "baffling". Without variation, Australia's attack looked one-dimensional once the pitch eased.

Morning Session: Australia Strike Early

The decision looked justified in the first hour. Starc swung the new Kookaburra ball prodigiously and removed Zak Crawley (8) with a delivery that nipped away to take the edge. Neser, recalled for his accuracy, trapped Ben Duckett (21) lbw with one that skidded on. Boland then had Jacob Bethell (15) caught behind with a ball that seamed away.

At 57-3, England were wobbling, and Stokes' decision to bat first looked questionable.

Afternoon Session: Root and Brook Take Control

Root, the Yorkshireman who leads the Test batting rankings, walked in under pressure but settled quickly. He survived early lbw appeals and edges, then played with his trademark poise: late cuts, deflections and crisp off-side drives. His fifty came via a delicate dab past slip.

Brook was aggressive from the outset. He rode his luck with inside edges and bouncers that evaded fielders, but then exploded with pulls, hooks and a towering six off Green that signalled England's shift to attack. His fifty came in only 63 balls.

The stand raced along as Australia's bowlers tired and their tactics grew repetitive. Short balls were dispatched and fuller deliveries driven elegantly, and the partnership reached 154 by the time play stopped.

Weather Interrupts: Bad Light and Storms

As the partnership flourished, the Sydney sky darkened. The floodlights were on, but visibility fell, and the umpires consulted their light meters repeatedly.

At 3.54pm local time, with England 211-3 after 45 overs, play was suspended. Boos echoed around the ground, and drizzle and thunder followed as full covers were rolled on with severe storms approaching. The break gave Australia's pacemen a rest, but momentum still lay firmly with England.

Key Stats and Milestones from Day 1

154*: the unbeaten fourth-wicket stand between Root and Brook.

72* and 78*: the unbeaten scores of Root and Brook.

1887-88: the last time Australia played an SCG Test without a specialist spinner.

45 overs: all that were bowled before the early tea and the end of play.

Why This Day Matters

Day 1 may not decide the Test, but it showed how risky selection can be. Australia's plan to attack with pace and seam worked for a session, and then the pitch flattened and the attack ran out of ideas. A spinner would have given Smith control, a way to slow the scoring and a different threat against two settled batters.

For England, the day was a reminder of what their best players can do when they take the pressure off. Root's calm and Brook's aggression complement each other, and with Stokes' team already free from the tension of the series result, that freedom is a real weapon.

Both sides are also playing for pride, World Test Championship points and a fitting send-off for Usman Khawaja in his final Test.

What Next?

With the forecast improving from Day 2, England are well placed to build a big total. Root and Brook, both eyeing centuries, could set Australia a difficult chase on a pitch expected to wear. The question for Smith is whether his pacemen can roar back, or whether Bazball will bury them.

Aussies’ shock 140-year first turns ugly as Sydney forces umpires’ grim call — LIVE

Sydney Cricket Ground, Day 1 – Pink Test, 5th Ashes Test, January 4, 2026

                    England has seized complete control of the final Ashes Test on a dramatic opening day at the SCG, with Joe Root and Harry Brook masterfully dismantling Australia's bold – and increasingly criticised – all-pace attack.

            By the time umpires were forced to halt play for bad light and impending storms, the tourists had surged to 3-211, courtesy of an unbeaten 154-run fourth-wicket partnership that exposed the hosts' historic selection gamble.

Captain Ben Stokes won a crucial toss and elected to bat on a pitch that looked lively with grass but flattened out under sunny morning skies. What followed was a day of contrasting fortunes: Australia's pacemen struck early to justify their audacious decision to go without a specialist spinner for the first time at the SCG since 1888, only for Root (72*) and Brook (78*) to turn the screws in a commanding afternoon session.

The day ended prematurely with thunder rumbling, lightning flashing and heavy covers rolled on as Sydney's notorious summer storms loomed. Boos rang out from the pink-clad crowd as umpires Chris Gaffaney and Ahsan Raza took the players off, taking early tea amid deteriorating light – a grim but unavoidable call that denied England further momentum.

England wins the toss and batting first in final Ashes test amid ...

Ben Stokes calls correctly at the toss alongside stand-in captain Steve Smith – a decision that set the tone for England's dominant day.

The 138-Year Gamble: Australia's Spinner-less XI Backfires

In a move that stunned the cricketing world, acting captain Steve Smith confirmed a team featuring five seam options – Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Cameron Green and debutant all-rounder Beau Webster – with no room for off-spinner Todd Murphy. It marked the first time Australia had fielded an XI without a specialist spinner at the SCG in 138 years, breaking a tradition rooted in the venue's historical tendency to offer turn.

Smith defended the call pre-match, citing a "green-tinged" surface and confidence in seam movement. But as Root and Brook flourished, former players lined up to criticise. Jason Gillespie called it "baffling", while others labelled it "the silliest call for a long time". Without variation, Australia's attack looked one-dimensional on a pitch that eased significantly.

Ashes, 4th Test: England pacer Tongue, Aussie quicks Boland, Neser ...

Australia's all-pace battery: Starc, Boland, Neser and Green toil under the SCG sun, but without spin, they lacked answers against Root and Brook.

Morning Session: Australia Strike Early

The decision appeared vindicated in the first hour. Starc, swinging the new Kookaburra prodigiously, removed Zak Crawley (8) with a beauty that nipped away to take the edge. Neser, recalled for his accuracy, trapped Ben Duckett (21) lbw with one that skidded on. Boland then accounted for Jacob Bethell (15), nicking off to a superb delivery that seamed away.

At 57-3, England were wobbling. Stokes' aggressive call to bat first looked questionable as Australia's pacemen extracted movement under partial cloud.

But enter the Yorkshire pairing.
Afternoon Dominance: Root and Brook Take Control

Joe Root, the world's No.1-ranked Test batter, walked in under pressure but immediately settled. Surviving early lbw shouts and edges, he played with trademark poise – late cuts, deflections and impeccable off-side drives. His fifty came via a delicate dab past slip, a shot that epitomised his mastery.

Harry Brook, aggressive from the outset, complemented perfectly. He rode his luck early – inside edges, bouncers evading fielders – but exploded with pulls, hooks and a towering six off Green that signalled England's shift to attack. His fifty arrived in just 63 balls, aggressive and assured.

The partnership raced along: 50 in 65 balls, 100 in 131, and 154 by the stoppage. England's run rate climbed to over five in the session as Australia's bowlers tired and tactics grew repetitive. Short balls were dispatched, fuller deliveries driven elegantly.

Joe Root closes on Sachin Tendulkar after 2nd fifty in Ashes 2025 ...

Joe Root in full flow – the evergreen maestro reaches yet another fifty, closing in on more milestones.

Root, Brook stand passes 150 as England 211-3 in 5th Ashes Test

Harry Brook unleashes his trademark aggression, launching Cameron Green for six as England dominate the afternoon.

Weather Interrupts: Bad Light and Storms Turn Ugly

As the partnership flourished, Sydney's skies darkened. Floodlights blazed, but visibility plummeted. With Root and Brook seeing the ball clearly and punishing loose deliveries, the umpires consulted light meters repeatedly.

At 3:54pm local time, with England 211-3 after 45 overs, play was suspended. Boos echoed around the ground – frustration from a capacity crowd decked in pink for the McGrath Foundation. Drizzle followed, thunder boomed, and full covers were deployed as radar showed severe storms approaching.

The interruption compounded Australia's misery. Their pacemen got a breather, but momentum swung firmly England's way.

Australia v England: fifth Ashes Test, day one – live

Covers on at the SCG – bad light and rain force an early end, much to the crowd's dismay.

Ashes Pink Test: 40,000 pack SCG as Bondi heroes honoured | Daily ...

The famous Pink Test crowd turns the SCG into a sea of pink, raising funds for the McGrath Foundation on a day interrupted by weather.

Key Stats and Milestones from Day 1Highest 4th-wicket partnership for England in the series: 154* (Root/Brook)

Root's 2nd fifty of the series – continues his pursuit of Sachin Tendulkar's records
Brook's explosive 78* – fastest to 3,000 Test runs in terms of balls faced (milestone reached earlier in series)

No specialist spinner for Australia at SCG – first since 1887-88
Early tea taken due to bad light/rain threat

What Next?

With forecasts improving dramatically from Day 2, England are poised to build a mammoth total. Root and Brook, both eyeing centuries, could set Australia a daunting chase on a pitch expected to deteriorate.

For the hosts, pride, a 4-1 series win and World Test Championship points are on the line – plus a fitting farewell for Usman Khawaja in his final Test. But Smith's selection gamble has turned ugly. Can their pacemen roar back, or will Bazball bury them?

This dead rubber is suddenly alive.

Current Score: England 3-211 (45 overs) – Root 72*, Brook 78* Session Summary: Morning – Australia on top; Afternoon – England rampant; Weather – the ultimate disruptor.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. What was the score at the end of Day 1 of the fifth Ashes Test?
England were 211-3 after 45 overs, with Joe Root on 72 not out and Harry Brook on 78 not out.

Q2. Why did play stop early at the SCG?
The umpires stopped play for bad light and approaching storms, and the players took an early tea before the rain arrived.

Q3. Why is Australia's team selection controversial?
They left out specialist spinner Todd Murphy, the first time in 138 years that Australia have played an SCG Test without one.

Q4. Who took wickets for Australia?
Mitchell Starc dismissed Zak Crawley, Michael Neser trapped Ben Duckett lbw, and Scott Boland removed Jacob Bethell.

Q5. How big was the Root and Brook partnership?
154 not out for the fourth wicket at the point play stopped.

Q6. Who won the toss?
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat.

Q7. Why is the crowd dressed in pink?
It is the annual Pink Test, which raises funds for the McGrath Foundation.

Steve Smith