Joe Root turned heads on Monday with a jaw-dropping 160, powering England to 384 runs in the final Ashes Test at Sydney. But it was Australia’s Travis Head who snatched the spotlight late in the day, smashing an unbeaten 91 in rapid style to keep the home side firmly in the contest.
Root, notching up his 41st Test century to equal Australian legend Ricky Ponting, was finally dismissed by Michael Neser’s stunning caught-and-bowled effort. Neser was the pick of the Aussie bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-60.
Australia faced the pressure in the last session of day two at a packed Sydney Cricket Ground, losing Jake Weatherald (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (48) along the way. By stumps, the hosts had sped to 166-2 with nightwatchman Neser at the crease and Head looking unstoppable.
All eyes were on Weatherald, who needed a big score to silence his critics after making his debut in Perth, but he couldn’t deliver again. He survived two dropped catches in three balls – first by Root, then Ben Duckett – before Ben Stokes trapped him lbw.
Head, meanwhile, was in sublime form. Having already scored two centuries in the series like Root, he wasted no time, cracking three boundaries off Matthew Potts’ second over. Potts was picked to replace the injured Gus Atkinson. There was no slowing down: Head blasted his way to a fifty off just 55 balls.
Labuschagne looked solid and stroked seven boundaries but was caught at gully off Stokes for 48.
Australia has already locked up the Ashes with a 3-1 series lead, but England is hungry for redemption after their win in Melbourne.
Root Matches Ponting’s Record
England started the day at 211-3 and quickly lost Harry Brook (84), Stokes (0), and Jamie Smith (46) before lunch. The wickets kept falling after the break: Will Jacks (27), Brydon Carse (1), Josh Tongue (0), and eventually Root all headed back to the dressing room.
Root was the star of the day, beginning on 72 and reaching his century with almost no hiccups. At 35, he entered the series under immense pressure, having never scored a hundred in Australia on previous Ashes trips. He broke his dry spell with a commanding
