Quick Read
- Australia’s Travis Head scored an unbeaten 91 off 87 balls in the Fifth Ashes Test.
- Joe Root’s majestic 160 drove England to a total of 384 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
- Australia finished day two at 166-2, trailing England by 218 runs.
- England’s bowling attack struggled, conceding quick runs and dropping two catches.
- Jamie Smith’s ‘atrocious’ dismissal for 46 highlighted England’s series-long carelessness.
The Sydney Cricket Ground, a hallowed turf for cricket aficionados, bore witness to a day of contrasting fortunes and individual brilliance in what has been, by many accounts, a rather ‘strange’ and ‘poor’ Ashes series. As the fifth and final Test unfolded on its second day, the narrative was dominated by two titans: England’s Joe Root, whose majestic 160 carved out a competitive total, and Australia’s Travis Head, whose blistering unbeaten 91 provided a powerful counterpunch, shifting the momentum firmly in Australia’s favour.
This Ashes series, already decided with Australia having retained the urn, had been hyped with immense anticipation, yet often delivered moments of sloppiness rather than consistent high-quality cricket. Day two in Sydney, however, offered glimpses of the individual mastery that fans crave. Root, ever the stalwart, stood tall for England, but his efforts were undermined by a familiar collapse and some ‘woeful’ bowling from his teammates, a trend that has plagued the touring side throughout the contest, as noted by BBC Sport.
Root’s Masterclass Amidst England’s Familiar Frailty
England had resumed their innings at a promising 211-3, with Root on 72, eyeing a significant score. What followed was a testament to his resilience and skill, yet also a stark illustration of England’s batting fragility. Harry Brook, who had looked fluent, added just six to his overnight 78 before dabbing at a Scott Boland delivery and edging to Steve Smith at slip for 84. This ended a crucial 169-run partnership, the best by either team in the series, surpassing Head and Alex Carey’s 162 in Adelaide.
The quick wickets continued to tumble. Captain Ben Stokes, after a mere 11 balls, succumbed to a faint edge off Mitchell Starc for a duck, leaving England reeling at 214-5. The collapse continued with Jamie Smith, whose innings of 46 was as fortunate as it was perplexing. Smith survived a no-ball on 22, then edged and miscued the same bowler, Cameron Green, before eventually falling to a ‘brainless’ dismissal off part-time medium-pacer Marnus Labuschagne. With seven fielders on the boundary for gentle bouncers, Smith played an ‘atrocious’ shot, a forehand to Scott Boland at deepish cover, a moment that BBC Sport described as encapsulating the carelessness that has so often cost this England team.
Despite the chaos around him, Root remained resolute. He moved to three figures from his overnight 72, reaching an almost chanceless century off 146 balls. This was his 41st Test ton, drawing him level with Australia great Ricky Ponting on the all-time century-makers’ list, with only India’s Sachin Tendulkar (51) and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45) having scored more. It marked a significant personal achievement for Root, who had begun the series under pressure after failing to make a hundred in Australia over three previous Ashes tours. He had snapped that drought with an unbeaten 138 in Brisbane and continued his rich vein of form in Sydney, a city where he was once dropped for the only time in his Test career and once batted himself into hospital due to extreme heat.
Root continued to carry England’s batting, passing 150 for the 17th time in Tests, a remarkable feat that places him just one behind the legendary Don Bradman. He eventually offered a leading edge to a diving Michael Neser in the bowler’s follow-through, part of England’s final collapse of 4-9. His magnificent innings of 160 helped England reach a competitive 384, a total that, on a pitch showing signs of uneven bounce, felt around par.
Head’s Aggressive Response Exploits England’s Bowling Woes
With a respectable total on the board, England needed a disciplined bowling performance to maintain pressure. Instead, Australia’s batters made rapid inroads, aided by what was widely described as a ‘slapdash’ and ‘woeful’ attack, coupled with two dropped catches. Travis Head, whose elevation to open in the second innings of the first Test in Perth was a defining moment of the series, once again proved to be England’s tormentor.
Opening bowlers Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts, the latter playing his first Test in over a year, struggled to contain the Australian openers, leaking runs freely. Head, known for his aggressive style, capitalized immediately, clattering three boundaries off Potts’ second over. He blazed to a quickfire 50 off 55 balls, demonstrating why he is considered one of Australia’s most prolific batsmen. His partnership with Jake Weatherald added 50 in 9.2 overs, despite Weatherald being put down twice – first by Root at first slip off Potts when on nine, then by Ben Duckett at mid-wicket off Carse when on 14.
It took the belated introduction of captain Ben Stokes to stem the flow of runs and provide a breakthrough. Stokes, on in the 11th over, trapped Weatherald lbw with his eighth delivery. Following Weatherald’s departure, Marnus Labuschagne joined Head at the crease, and the pair continued to build Australia’s innings, sharing another 105 runs. Labuschagne, too, was in good touch, stroking seven boundaries before Stokes, after an exchange of words, drew him into an edge to gully for 48. This dismissal highlighted Stokes’ ability to influence the game, even when his team’s overall bowling performance was struggling.
Head, meanwhile, remained unfazed, continuing his assault on England’s bowling. He carved through the off side with powerful shots, leaving England’s attack searching for answers. By stumps, Australia had raced to 166-2 after 34.1 overs, trailing by 218 runs, with Head unbeaten on 91 from just 87 balls. He stood on the cusp of his third century of the series, a testament to his consistent dominance against England.
A Series Defined by Individual Brilliance and Collective Struggles
The second day of the Ashes finale perfectly encapsulated the series as a whole: moments of individual brilliance juxtaposed with periods of team sloppiness. While Root’s monumental effort and Head’s aggressive counter-attack provided the spectacle, England’s collective struggles, particularly with their bowling and fielding, allowed Australia to gain a significant advantage. Michael Neser’s 4-60, including the crucial wicket of Root, showcased an improved Australian bowling performance, contrasting sharply with England’s ‘2/10’ assessment of their own efforts, as reported by NDTV Sports.
The pitch at the SCG, already showing signs of uneven bounce, suggests that England’s total of 384 might be challenging. However, with Head threatening a century and the potential for Australia to build a substantial lead, the pressure will be immense on the fragile visitors in the third innings. The fitness of Root, who suffered cramp in his back after his marathon innings, will also be a concern for England as they look to salvage some pride from this ‘strange’ Ashes series.
As the sun set on day two in Sydney, the Ashes finale teetered on a knife-edge. While Joe Root’s heroic 160 was a testament to his enduring class, it was Travis Head’s explosive response that truly dictated the day’s narrative. His ability to turn a challenging situation into a dominant one underscored Australia’s relentless pursuit of victory and exposed the persistent cracks in England’s armour, leaving them with a monumental task ahead to prevent Australia from further extending their series dominance.