England’s Joe Root put on a batting masterclass. He scored a big 160 runs for his team. But then Travis Head totally changed the game for Australia. Head blasted an unbeaten 91. This all happened on day two of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
Australia ended the day at 166 for 2. They’re still 218 runs behind England’s total of 384. The match is definitely heading for at least a fourth day, for sure. Australia has already retained the Ashes, they’re 3-1 up. But England really wants to level the series. They got a good win in Melbourne before this.
Root’s Masterclass and England’s Collapse
England started day two strong. They were 211 for 3 overnight. Everyone was thinking they’d get way past 450, maybe even 500. But then things kinda fell apart, like they always seem to do. Joe Root, though, he was just brilliant.
He kept going and got a magnificent 160 runs off 242 balls. It was his 41st Test century. He’s now level with Ricky Ponting, which is amazing. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis have more Test tons. This was also his first Ashes ton in Australia with the red ball. He was just playing so well, really in sync. He picked off 15 fours.
It took a good caught-and-bowled from Michael Neser to finally get him out. Neser ended up with 4 for 60, a great spell. But wickets just kept falling around Root. Harry Brook went early for 84. Ben Stokes followed with a duck. Jamie Smith made 46, but he got out in a really silly way just before lunch. He hit a cross-batted shot off Marnus Labuschagne, of all people.
It went straight to deep extra cover. England lost 7 for 173 in two sessions. That included a terrible collapse of 5 for 61. It really undermined all of Root’s hard work. England was all out for 384. It felt like a decent score, but it could’ve been a lot more.
Head’s Blazing Counterattack
Australia came out swinging, especially Travis Head. He just went after England’s bowlers. The pitch had quickened up overnight. It was offering some seam movement and bounce. But Head didn’t care much, apparently. He blasted an unbeaten 91 from just 87 balls. That included 15 fours. He got his half-century off only 55 balls. He’s such an aggressive player, always looking to score. It was a really quick innings.
Jake Weatherald was out early for 21. He was actually dropped twice before Ben Stokes got him with an LBW, as BBC Sport reported. Stokes, the captain, actually did well with the ball, getting 2 for 30. He also got Marnus Labuschagne for 48. Labuschagne and Stokes had a bit of a chat out there, a bit of an exchange of words. Then Labuschagne edged one to Jacob Bethell in the gully. Head and Labuschagne had put on a good 105-run stand for the second wicket. It really shrunk England’s lead, according to The Guardian.
England’s new-ball bowlers, Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts, they struggled quite a bit. They just couldn’t find the right line or length. Head was just taking them apart, basically. Australia ended the day in a really strong position. Michael Neser, the nightwatchman, was 1 not out alongside Head. Australia owned that final session. As BBC Sport’s live coverage noted, day two at the SCG truly belonged to Australia.
Day Three Looms with Series Pride at Stake
So, Australia is 166 for 2. They trail by 218 runs. The match is definitely set up for some exciting play on day three, and probably day four too. Head is still there, batting beautifully. He’s looking good for a century, his third of the series. England really needs early wickets, and they need them fast. They can’t afford to let Head get away.
Australia has already clinched the Ashes, they lead 3-1. So this is kinda a dead rubber, in a way. But both teams are still competing hard. England really wants to finish strong. They want to level the series 3-2. That would be their first Ashes triumph in Australia since 2010-11, if they pull it off. Joe Root, who was off the field briefly with back cramp, told SuperSport it’s “set interestingly.” He also said,
“Most important for us is not panicking, not dwelling too much on what happened here. It’s how we respond tomorrow morning and maximise that chance first up.”
Neser, the nightwatchman, also mentioned a “fresh start tomorrow.” He thinks the wicket is quickening a bit, too. This whole day, it really showed what this series has been like. Individual brilliance, like Root’s 160. But also, frustrating collapses from England. And then, strong counterattacks from Australia. The SCG surface seems to have variable bounce.
That might help England’s seamers if they can hit the right areas. It’s going to be a crucial morning session on day three. England needs to really step up. Or Australia could just bat them out of the game.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee 
Ishaan Singh