England’s Joe Root celebrates reaching his century on day two of the fifth Ashes Check. Picture: AFP
SYDNEY:
An imperious Joe Root hit a powerful 160 to drive England to 384 within the fifth and ultimate Ashes Check Monday earlier than Travis Head let rip to haul Australia again into the competition with a rapid-fire unbeaten 91.
Root’s excellent innings, his forty first ton to match Ricky Ponting, was solely ended courtesy of a superb caught-and-bowled by Michael Neser, who completed with 4-60.
Australia had been left to barter the ultimate session of day two at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Floor, which they did for the lack of Jake Weatherald (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (48).
By stumps, the hosts had raced to 166-2 with nightwatchman Neser on one alongside Head.
Weatherald, who wanted a giant rating to stave off the critics, once more didn’t reside as much as expectations since making his debut on the first Check in Perth.
He was dropped twice within the area of three balls, by Root then Ben Duckett, earlier than Ben Stokes trapped him lbw.
However Head, who like Root has slammed two centuries this sequence, was within the zone.
He clattered three boundaries off the second over from Matthew Potts, within the facet for the injured Gus Atkinson, and there was no let-up, blitzing a quickfire 50 off 55 balls.
Labuschagne was additionally in good contact, stroking seven boundaries earlier than thick-edging Stokes to Jacob Bethell at gully.
Australia lead the sequence 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England determined for one more win after victory on the earlier Check in Melbourne.
Root joins Ponting
England resumed at 211-3 however misplaced Harry Brook (84), Stokes (0) and Jamie Smith (46) earlier than lunch.
Will Jacks (27), Brydon Carse (1) and Josh Tongue (0), together with Root, departed within the second session.
The day belonged to Root, who began on 72 and reached an nearly chanceless century off 146 balls to reaffirm his standing as an all-time nice.
The 35-year-old had begun the sequence below strain after failing to make 100 in Australia over three earlier Ashes excursions.
He snapped the drought with an unbeaten 138 within the day-night Check at Brisbane and his exploits in Sydney drew him degree third with Australia’s Ponting on the all-time century-makers’ record, with 41.
Solely India’s Sachin Tendulkar (51) and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45) have scored extra Check centuries.
Root and Brook got here along with England in bother at 57-3 on Sunday, with each eyeing massive centuries on an excellent batting deck.However Brook solely lasted 5 balls on Monday, including six to his in a single day 78 earlier than dabbing at a Scott Boland supply and edging into the secure fingers of Steve Smith at slip.
It ended a 169-run partnership, not simply England’s better of the sequence however the largest by both staff, surpassing Head and Alex Carey’s 162 in Adelaide.
Stokes solely survived 11 balls earlier than getting the faintest of edges off Mitchell Starc to Carey.
Jamie Smith lived dangerously and was lucky to outlive after chipping Cameron Inexperienced to Labuschagne at cowl on 22. He started strolling off however replays confirmed Inexperienced overstepped and it was a no-ball.
He added one other 24 earlier than medium-pacer Labuschagne bagged him in his first over.
The run fee slowed considerably after lunch when the brand new ball was taken, however Root continued, passing 150 for a seventeenth time, only one behind the legendary Don Bradman and three in need of Tendulkar.
He and Jacks placed on 52 for the seventh wicket till Jacks despatched a forefront to Inexperienced within the gully off Neser. Root was ninth man out and Tongue adopted with none addition to the rating.
