Joe Root delivered a masterful innings of 160 runs on day two of the Fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, reaching his 41st Test century and drawing level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting on the all-time list.
Only Sachin Tendulkar with 51 centuries and Jacques Kallis with 45 now sit above the England star in the record books.
Root’s second hundred of the series came to an end when Michael Neser took a diving catch off his own bowling.
The physical demands appeared to affect the England star, who missed much of Australia’s batting innings due to a back spasm.
Despite his brilliance, England’s batting crumbled around him as they were dismissed for 384, with the final four wickets tumbling for just nine runs.
Australia responded strongly, reaching 166 for two by the close of play, with left-handed opener Travis Head closing in on his third century of the series on 91 not out.
England’s attack struggled badly for accuracy and discipline, with Ben Stokes the sole bowler to trouble the Australian batsmen.
Joe Root delivered a masterful innings of 160 runs on day two of the Fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, reaching his 41st Test century and drawing level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting on the all-time list
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PA
The remaining bowlers scattered deliveries across the pitch without any consistent threat.
Matthew Potts, returning after five weeks without match bowling, showed clear signs of rust, serving up a succession of short, wide balls that Head punished ruthlessly.
The hosts plundered 17 boundaries in the opening 21 overs of their reply, exposing England’s inability to maintain a testing line and length.
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Tensions flared between Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne during Australia’s innings, with the England captain appearing to lose patience with the Australian’s constant chatter at the crease.
Lip readers watching the exchange believed Stokes told Labuschagne to “shut the f**k up.”
The confrontation proved sweet for Stokes, who soon after claimed Labuschagne’s wicket when the batsman drove at a wide delivery and edged to Jacob Bethell at gully.
Stokes was responsible for both Australian dismissals, having earlier trapped Jake Weatherald lbw for 21.
The captain’s double strike came after Weatherald had been given a reprieve when Ben Duckett spilled a chance at square leg with the opener on 14.
Duckett’s fumble extended his wretched series with both bat and in the field.
Ben Stokes briefly lost his cool in the fifth and final Ashes Test between England and Australia
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PA
Yet the most egregious error belonged to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, whose dismissal ranked as England’s worst of the entire tour.
With the second new ball due in fewer than six overs, Smith inexplicably slapped a slow bouncer from part-time spinner Labuschagne straight to deep cover, where Scott Boland stood as the only fielder in front of square on the off-side.
Smith, who had earlier survived on 22 when caught off a no-ball, departed for 46 after adding 94 with Root for the sixth wicket.
The keeper has endured a difficult time and has also lost his place in England’s white-ball squads.
England now face the prospect of a 4-1 series defeat, though the Test remains in the balance.
