The second day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) had everything that cricket purists crave for in the traditional format: a class century, a dogged lower-order rearguard and an electrifying fight back. In a roll of the dice in a one-off winner-takes-all Test match following rain and bad light on Day 1, Monday provided everything that this form of cricket can deliver: England with a strong total, and Australia’s top order an aggressive riposte.
By the end of play, the story of this match — and perhaps of this series finale — was tantalizingly poised. England won themselves a cushion after their first-innings total of 384, but Australia closed on 164/2 and they are not going to let the visitors scamper away with a consolation win.
Joe Root Dominates as England Takes Strong Command vs. New Zealand
The morning session was almost entirely Joe Root’s. The former England captain resumed on 72 and he was a man with a job — once more. On a pitch starting to demonstrate variable bounce, Root’s footwork was exemplary. He raised his 41st Test century — and his first on Australian soil — with a typical punch down the ground, an act that was cheered by not just the travelling Barmy Army but also the Sydney crowd.
Root’s 160 was a lesson in accumulation and precision. He steadied the innings as partners fells around him. Harry Brook, who seemed on his way to a century, was the first wicket of the morning fell when he edged Boland to Steve Smith at slip after an attractive innings that had seen him reach 84. The dismissal broke a record-breaking 169-run partnership between the two which dug England out of trouble on Day 1.
Finally though in the afternoon the Australian bowlers managed to break through as Michael Neser persistently hit a length. Neser was undoubtedly the star of the show, ending up with 4 for 60. His dexterity in the conditions to extract movement was pivotal, ultimately accounting for Root with a sharp caught-and-bowled. England’s tail wagged briefly courtesy of Jamie Smith (46) and Will Jacks (27) but a clatter of the final five wickets for just 61 runs saw them dismissed for 384 by tea.
Travis Head Stands Up for the Australia Fight-Back
Australia’s response was characteristically bold. Under darkening skies Australia’s opening pair of Travis Head and debutant Jake Weatherald walked out after he had rested Pat Cummins and Steve Smith led the team. Weatherald appeared nervy on debut in the Ashes, and was eventually trapped LBW for 21 to a shooter from Ben Stokes, though Travis Head flew SpaceX.
Head, elevated as an opener for this series, remained in the mood of “Bazball” Test cricket. He treated the England seamers with contempt, cutting and pulling anything short of a length. He reached his fifty from 54 balls and with a flurry of boundaries he had turned the momentum back in Stokes’ men’s favour.
Supporting him was Marnus Labuschagne, as well as anyone could. The pair shared a century second-wicket partnership up until the fading light to frustrate the England eattack. The ever-idiosyncratic Labuschagne got involved in a few lively conversations with the umpires about the light, much to Ben Stokes’ frustration. The pressure had been building close to the end when Stokes finally dismissed his man – Labuschagne caught at gully by Jacob Bethell for 48, just two short of his half-century.
The Evening Drama: Light, Grit and Strategy
The last half-hour of the game was high theater. But when Labuschagne fell, Australia used a nightwatchman in Michael Neser to shield the middle order. The session was eventually curtailed early by fading light and a smattering of drizzle, but not before Neser copped a blow to the arm from a rising delivery.
Travis Head was the star of the show once again, finishing not out on 91 off only 87 balls* and that knock included 15 boundaries! His belligerence has England with a lot of homework to do on “moving day.”
Conclusion: A Game of Two Halves
A spellbinding Day 2 at the SCG comes to a close and the game is poised on a knife-edge. England will take great heart from Joe Root’s record-breaking 160, which took them to their highest total of the summer and a position from which they can now try and push the hosts hard. But, the game took a 180 on day three of the Test as Travis Head smacked an all out for 91* and what should have been a daunting chase felt achievable.
The late wicket of Labuschagne gave England a sniff, but Australia remain in the driving seat with eight wickets remaining and the series leading run-scorer well set at the crease. The morning session tomorrow is going to be the crucial period of the game; they should win from here; if they can take out Head on in the first hour or so, they will play well enough to get a result in their favour. If not that, then Australia looks as if it will be marching toward a huge first-innings total in the search for a 4-1 series scoreline.
