Root and Brook Steady England as Rain-Hit Day 1 Eases Ashes Fears at SCG

Persistent rain at the Sydney Cricket Ground ensured the opening day of the fifth Ashes Test was reduced to exactly half its scheduled overs, a scenario that likely brought relief to officials at Cricket Australia and the SCG alike. After heavy financial losses from shortened matches in Perth and Melbourne, fears of another severely truncated Test had put administrators on edge.

With England reaching 211 for three before play was abandoned at 5pm, it now appears unlikely that this series finale will suffer the same fate—barring something extraordinary on Day 2.

Further encouragement came from the commanding, unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook. England’s familiar top-order struggles resurfaced early as they slipped to 57 for three, but Australia’s bowling attack—lacking a specialist spinner at the SCG for the first time since the Victorian era—soon appeared short on answers.

Given the circumstances, that was hardly surprising. Australia were without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, while Root and Brook currently occupy the top two spots in the Test batting rankings. On a surface offering significantly less movement than previous pitches in the series, the conditions were ripe for run-scoring.

Still, after a tour marked by England’s batting inconsistencies and scrutiny over their approach, nothing was guaranteed. Root’s assured 72 and Brook’s more edgy but effective 78 provided England with much-needed stability, even if rain and fading light from mid-afternoon prevented the day from reaching a decisive point.

The 45 overs bowled were entertaining enough for another strong crowd, offering a better contest between bat and ball than seen in earlier Tests. Australia struck three times within the first 90 minutes before Root and Brook began finding gaps, rotating strike and forcing tactical adjustments.

Australia fielded an unconventional bowling lineup, with stand-in captain Steve Smith admitting their options were limited due to the absence of a frontline spinner. The attack appeared compromised—retaining an out-of-form Cameron Green while handing Beau Webster a long-awaited opportunity—resulting in two all-rounders and a heavy reliance on right-arm medium pace alongside Mitchell Starc.

After a moving pre-match tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attacks and emergency responders, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett began positively, with Starc generating early swing. Duckett, in particular, played fluently, striking boundaries that hinted at a turnaround in form.

However, as has been the pattern, the start proved fleeting. Duckett edged away from his body on 27 to give Starc his 27th wicket of the series. Crawley soon followed, trapped lbw by Michael Neser on 16, leaving England 51 for two inside 12 overs.

Jacob Bethell once again showed promise without substance, making just 10 before Scott Boland cleverly adjusted his angle, inducing an edge that was neatly taken by Alex Carey.

From 57 for three, Root and Brook put together a partnership defined by contrasting styles. Root looked entirely at ease on the slower surface, threading drives through cover, nudging singles and manipulating the field. Brook, meanwhile, appeared less settled, surviving a couple of inside edges off Boland that narrowly missed the stumps.

Yet by the premature close, the pair had registered England’s highest stand of the tour—only their third century partnership—and Brook had posted his best score of the series. Cameron Green bore the brunt of the onslaught after lunch, conceding 57 runs from eight overs as England added 97 runs in the afternoon session without loss.

Brook produced the standout stroke of the day with a powerful swivel pull off Green that sailed 97 metres over deep backward square leg, though Root’s effortless drives were equally pleasing. England’s scoring rate of 4.6 runs per over felt more in line with expectations for their travelling supporters.

While this display may deepen frustration over England’s earlier failures—raising questions about why their approach only seems to flourish once pressure eases—it undeniably resembled proper Test cricket more than the chaotic scenes witnessed in Melbourne. And for Cricket Australia’s accountants, that alone would have come as a relief.