Summary

  • Fifth Test, day one, Sydney - England win toss and bat

  • Root and Brook both hit fifties in unbroken 154-run partnership before bad light and rain eventually lead to early close at 06:00 GMT, with England 211-3

  • Duckett, Crawley and Bethell fall in first 13 overs to leave tourists 57-3

  • Australia hold unassailable 3-1 series lead

  • Highlights available on iPlayer from 17:00 GMT

  • Day two will begin 30 minutes early at 23:00 GMT Sunday 4 January (10:00 local time, Monday 5 January)

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Live Reporting

by Elizabeth Botcherby & Timothy Abraham

  1. Close of play - Eng 211-3

    A general view of the Sydney Cricket Groundgett

    Play has been abandoned. Boos ring around the SCG.

    England will resume on 211-3 (45 overs) on day two at 23:00 GMT.

  2. What's happened on day one?

    Just joining us and expecting to start your Sunday with an hour of cricket?

    Well, bad light and rain have brought day one of the fifth Test to a halt and there's no indication that play will resume in Sydney any time soon.

    We did, however, enjoy pretty much two full sessions before the players were brought off at 3:54 GMT.

    What happened, you ask?

    Well, Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat, but the first hour didn't really go to plan. Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, and Jacob Bethell fell in a clump as England slumped from 35-0 to 57-3.

    However, Joe Root and Harry Brook steadied things, guiding England to 114-3 at lunch and pressed on in the second session.

    They've put on 154 (193) for the fourth wicket to take England to 211-3 after 45 overs.

    Root has 72 (103) and Brook has 78 (92).

    Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland have picked up a wicket apiece for Australia but Cameron Green (0-57 off eight) has been expensive.

  3. SCG with dark clouds and a steward wearing a plastic mac in the foregroundGetty Images
    A fan with an umbrella stands under dark skies at the SCGGetty Images
    SCG with dark clouds and covers on the pitchGetty Images

    It's a bit brighter now but we had some seriously brooding skies over the Sydney Cricket Ground a little earlier.

    Like something out of a Bronte novel, says Tim.

  4. Get Involved

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    We’re up in the Blue Mountains about an hour from Sydney, where the weather has become pretty lovely. Hoping it makes its way down to Sydney so we can listen to TMS on the drive down. As to a current player, we think Rehan Ahmed. Can bat at number three, can take wickets, and he’s already in Sydney.

    Anon

    Sam Northeast, if he doesn’t get a go he’s probably one of the best players never to get a chance for England.

    Will G from a bright and sunny SCG

    Please can you tell Peter from Paignton to get some sleep after that first Test line-up prediction.

    Jimmy, SCG

  5. Asa TribeGetty Images

    If memory serves, Paul, Rehan Ahmed injured his leg during the Lions match against England. But he has been back in action for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash and was quite a revelation at number three for Leicestershire last season.

    Asa Tribe is an excellent suggestion, Alex. He earned plenty of attention with 53* against the Prime Minister's XI and 129* for the Lions against Australia A.

  6. Get Involved

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    Rehan Ahmed should be nailed on going forward in this side. Good with the ball and an excellent batsmen. Unsure how the selectors missed him out the touring squad

    Paul, Leics

    Well, an opener would be good. Sibley, Hameed, Tribe maybe.

    Alex in Manchester

    Tall Paul Walter. Everyone knows how he can bat in the 100 but he's also a nuggetty opening batter for Essex capable of scoring 100 off 300 balls. Could bowl a few overs as well.

    Duncan in East Lancs

  7. That's certainly an interesting XI, Peter.

    Who England's first-choice spinner will be this summer certainly feels up in the air given Shoaib Bashir's recent non-selections.

  8. Get Involved

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    My Eng XI for the first Test of the summer - Hameed, De Caires, Bean, Root, Brook, Stokes (c), Bracey (wk), C Overton, Archer, Tongue, Leach.

    Peter, Paignton

  9. Still no sign of a restart in Sydney.

    The covers are on, the flags on the pavilion continue to blow, and a couple of members of the security team on the boundary have donned rain ponchos.

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    Who to put in: I’ve seen Alastair Cook & Graeme Swann at the ground today - both would be very welcome!

    Darren at the SCG

    Very good, Darren. My fault for not specifying *current* player.

  11. Highlights on BBC iPlayer

    BBC iPlayer

    Missed any of today's play?

    Full highlights of all of the action, plus reaction from the players and analysis from the TMS team, will be available from 5pm each day on BBC iPlayer.

  12. Get Involved

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    Now, I did warn you before play that bad weather was expected and to have your best rain delay chatter close at hand...

    Do keep your messages coming or I'll be forced to throw out one of the thoughts that's been buzzing around my head, say - if you could pick one player to put into this England XI (someone you'd like to return to the side or a new face from the county circuit), who would it be?

    Oh no, I've put it in writing now...

  13. Bad light/rain continues to stop play - Eng 211-3

    A security guard stands in the outfield as rain falls on day one of the fifth Ashes cricket TestGetty Images

    For anyone just joining us who's wondering what Rob is on about - yes, play has stopped in Sydney for a combination of bad light and rain.

    The players went off around 3:54 GMT, with England 211-3 after 45 overs.

    There's been thunder and lightning around the ground and for the time being, the covers remain firmly on.

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    Only England would have poor light and rain issues in an Australian summer, when we actually look like batting at ease. Luck rarely seems on our side.

    Rob

  15. And for the sake of completeness, Harry Brook's highlights.

    78 off 92 balls, including six fours and one six.

  16. Root's 72 has come off 103 balls and featured eight fours.

    Here are the best shots from his innings so far.

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    Photo from the back of the Victor Trumper Stand at the SCG showing covers on the fielder but breaking clouds beyond the standsBBC Sport

    Bright from the Victor Trumper stand! We’ll be back on soon.

    Anon

  18. Anyway, back to those highlights...

    It was a wicketless second session, with Joe Root and Harry Brook combining for 154 (193) and counting for the fourth wicket to take England to 211-3 (45 overs) before play was called to a halt at 3:54 GMT.

    Root has 72 (103) and Brook has 78 (92).

  19. Covers are seen over the pitch as rain falls on day one of the fifth Ashes cricketGetty Images

    Thunder and lightning, reports Stephan Shemilt from the SCG...

    The flags on the pavilion are flapping around (my observation, not Steph's).

  20. Ben Stokes won the toss and put England in to bat.

    The opening hour didn't exactly go to plan, with a flurry of wickets seeing England slump from 35-0 to 57-3.

    Ben Duckett (27 off 24) and Jacob Bethell (10 off 23) were caught behind by Alex Carey off Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, respectively, while Zak Crawley (27 off 24) was trapped lbw by Michael Neser.

    However, Joe Root and Harry Brook steadied things, steering England to 114-3 at lunch.