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Root & Brook Dominate: England's Commanding 211/3 at Tea in 5th Ashes Test

Joe Root and Harry Brook steered England into a commanding position with an unbroken 150-run partnership, guiding the visitors to 211/3 at Tea on Day 1 of the fifth Ashes Test. Both batters scored fluent half-centuries, with Root on 72* and Brook on 78*, capitalizing after England opted to bat first at the SCG. The pair navigated the second session without loss, accelerating after lunch to push England past the 200-run mark. Australia's bowlers, with a wicket apiece for Starc, Boland, and Neser, struggled to break the pivotal fourth-wicket stand.

Key Points: England 211/3 at Tea: Root & Brook Centuries | Ashes 5th Test

  • Root & Brook's 150+ partnership
  • England crosses 200 at Tea
  • Unbroken 4th wicket stand
  • Australia's bowlers struggle for wickets
2 min read

Ashes 5th Test: Joe Root and Harry Brook's half-centuries put England in commanding position at Tea on Day 1

Joe Root (72*) & Harry Brook (78*) lead England to 211/3 at Tea on Day 1 of the 5th Ashes Test. Unbroken 150-run stand puts visitors in command.

"Root and Brook notched up the 150-run stand for the fourth wicket, putting the visitors in a commanding position. - Match Report"

Sydney Januar, y 4

Another commanding session for England as they crossed the 200-run mark in their first innings after the conclusion of the second session of the ongoing fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on Sunday.

Af Tea on Day 1, England were at 211/3 in 45 overs with Joe Root (72* off 103 balls, including eight fours) and Harry Brook (78* off 92 deliveries, with the help of six fours and one six) staying unbeaten at the crease.

England started the second session with 114/3 on the board with Brook and Root on strike.

During the 26th over, Root hit a superb drive against speedster Scott Boland towards extra cover, which went for a four. After the end of 30 overs, England reached 142/3 with Root and Brook looking solid at the crease and negotiating the threat.

Boundaries kept coming as the Three Lions raced to 155/3 after the end of 33 overs. In the very next over, Root reached his well-deserved fifty in 65 deliveries, whereas Brook notched up his half-century after hitting a four against speedster Beau Webster.

England crossed the 200-run mark in the 42nd over. Root and Brook notched up the 150-run stand for the fourth wicket during the 43rd over, putting the visitors in a commanding position as they went into tea without losing a single wicket in the second session.

Earlier in the first session, an unbeaten 57-run stand with Root and Brook for the fourth wicket helped England to reach 114/3 in 24 overs at Lunch on Day 1 after opting to bat first. Brook (23* off 31 balls, including two fours) and Root (31* off 37 deliveries, with the help of four boundaries) stayed unbeaten at the crease.

Openers Zak Crawley (16 off 29 balls, with the help of three fours) and Ben Duckett (27 off 24 balls, with the help of five boundaries) stitched a 35-run stand for the first wicket.

Jacob Bethell departed after scoring 10 runs off 23 deliveries, including two fours, before Root and Harry Brook steadied the ship and helped the visitors cross the 100-run mark in the first session. For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Michael Neser picked one wicket apiece in the first session.

Brief Scores: England: 211/3 (Joe Root 72*, Harry Brook 78*, Michael Neser 1/36) vs Australia.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Ananya R
Watching from Mumbai with my morning chai! Root's class is permanent. That drive off Boland sounded sweet even on the radio commentary. Brook is fearless. England finally showing some backbone in this series. Hope they can convert this into a big total.
D
David E
As an Indian fan, it's fun to watch Australia struggle a bit for a change! 😄 But seriously, 211/3 is a fantastic platform. The pitch seems good for batting. Australia will need early wickets after tea or they could be chasing leather all day.
S
Siddharth J
Respectful criticism: England's top order still looks shaky. 114/3 at lunch isn't ideal. They are being bailed out by these two. Need more consistency from Crawley and Duckett if they want to challenge teams like India and Australia regularly.
P
Priya S
Harry Brook is such an exciting talent! Scoring at that rate in a Test match is brilliant. Reminds me of some of our young Indian batters - plays with positive intent. Hope they both get centuries. The Ashes drama continues! 🏏
K
Karthik V
The session belonged entirely to England. No wickets in 21 overs after lunch is poor from Australia. Where's the famous Aussie pressure? They need Cummins or Hazlewood to step up. A good day for Test cricket fans though!

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