A big partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook helped England into a rare position of strength against Australia on the first day of the fifth Test – only for bad light and rain to cut short their good work. Root had 72, Brook 78, and Australia were starting to look short of ideas, having opted not to pick a frontline spinner at Sydney for the first time since 1887-88. One swipe flew over the wicketkeeper’s head for a single, while a loopy pull somehow dropped between three converging fielders at deep square leg. But Brook was not to be deterred: when Cameron Green, whose eight overs leaked 57, dropped short again, Brook swivel-pulled him for an imperious six over long leg. Crawley made just 16 before playing round a full-length ball from Michael Neser, his lbw confirmed by DRS, which had the ball hitting leg bail.

Source: Daily Mail January 04, 2026 13:28 UTC