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. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Nice, solid play from this pair. Dare I say it England are playing sensible Test match cricket.

  2. Eng 164-3

    Possibly for the first time in this series, England look: a) relatively composed at the crease and b) capable of posting a big score.

    There is the potential here for this to end up England's highest partnership of the series.

  3. 50 runs

    Half-century for Brook

    Harry Brook gets to fifty with a flourish, driving Beau Webster through the covers for four.

    It's laced with a degree of fortune given some of the swatting in the previous over.

  4. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Joe Root has played beautifully. He can play that glide to third so nicely on this pitch.

  5. Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Joe Root of England raises his bat after reaching 50 runsGetty Images

    Another little contribution to Joe Root's incredible Test match record.

  6. 50 runs

    Fifty for Root

    Joe Root cuts Beau Webster for a single. He has a half-century off 59 balls.

    "Nanananahh, Joe Roooot" pipe up the Barmy Army.

    It's been classy and composed from Root.

  7. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    That is the third time Harry Brook has tried something to the short ball. He is very fortunate - that was daft.

    Can Joe Root advise him just to see Mitchell Starc off?

  8. Eng 155-3

    So much for the restraint...

    Harry Brook cloths a hook shot to a Mitchell Starc bouncer but it drops safe short of mid-on and he collects a single.

    Later in the over. Brook skies a top-edge pull off the left-arm Aussie quick and there are English hearts in mouths.

    Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green converge but the ball somehow drops safe in the middle of then.

  9. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Harry Brook has played with his usual tempo after lunch after showing some restraint in the first session in this innings today. Before the lunch break, Brook left 22% deliveries and attacked 28% deliveries. In this session though he's left only 8% deliveries and attacked 38% deliveries.

  10. Get Involved

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    Great to see Harry Brook bat with a little more caution. He is so talented that if he can avoid dismissals to shots that he made earlier on in the series, he will be unstoppable!

    Mike in Grantham

  11. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    This pitch is pure. It does work well for the way England like to play.

    Joe Root and Harry Brook have glided the ball to third regularly - it is the kind of shots we see in the UK.

  12. Eng 152-3

    More conventional areas to Harry Brook from Michael Neser and he opens the face and caresses it through third for four.

    Brook then rather sensibly defends three balls before punching a single.

    This partnership between two of Yorkshire's finest is now worth 95 runs off 114 balls.

  13. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Why can't Harry Brook just bat through Mitchell Starc's overs? You cannot just gift him a wicket.

    I can't fathom how England think risk cricket is the way to play in Australia.

  14. Eng 147-3

    Joe Root of EnglandGetty Images

    Mitchell Starc dispatches a few fielders to the fence on the leg side, and decides a short-ball approach is the way to winkle one of these two Yorkies out.

    Harry Brook top edges it down to fly slip - thankfully on the bounce - with a bit of filthy swat.

    Later in the over, Starc over pitches and Joe Root unfurls another majestic cover drive for four.

  15. Eng 142-3

    Mmmm, trifle.

  16. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That shot was like lunchtime trifle - you just help yourself. You can take advantage of Michael Neser when he misses.

  17. Eng 141-3

    The hirsute Michael Neser takes over from Scott Boland. Alex Carey is stood up.

    He slides on to Harry Brook's pads with his second ball and it's a composed clip for four from the Yorkshireman.

  18. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    The pitch is becoming a bit more straw coloured now. It is just about getting a partnership built and wearing the Australia bowlers down.

  19. Eng 137-3

    England's Harry Brook (L) and Joe RootGetty Images

    Mitchell Starc drops it short to Harry Brook off the fourth ball of the over but the England batter resists taking on the hook shot.

    England nudge and nurdle three more off the over.

    There's a post-lunch hum at the SCG.

  20. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket reporter in Sydney

    Planes are taking off from Kingsford Smith Airport, away to the right of this picture. To the left, the clock tower of Disney Studios pokes over the top of the stand. Australia are feeding Joe Root's cut shot. Lovely.

    A scenic view of the Sydney Cricket GroundBBC Sport