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. Eng 134-5

    Joe Root of EnglandGetty Images

    A little short and wide from Scott Boland and Joe Root cashes in, cutting on top of the bounce wide of gully for four. Root is looking good here.

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

    Australia believe that Harry Brook will do something that can give them that wicket opportunity.

    They are dangling the patient card at him to see if Brook has patience.

  3. Eng 130-3

    As per CricViz earlier, there's very little movement off the pitch in Sydney.

    Mitchell Starc opts to keep it straight and sensible. Joe Root and Harry Brook pick up a single apiece.

    First time since 1888 Australia have played a Test at the SCG without a frontline spinner in their ranks by the way.

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    Don’t want to curse it but… a second Joe Root hundred in Australia might just allow me some pleasant memories of this series…

    SRB, Norwich

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

    Scott Boland was up there but it didn't sound right to me. It was a soft sound.

  6. Eng 128-3

    Dreamy drive from Joe Root through the covers.

    Effortlessly stroked by England's all-time leading runscorer.

    A couple of balls later from Scott Boland and there's a noise from a nip-backer that Australia ponder reviewing.

    However, Steve Smith was wise to ignore any clamour as TV replays show it clearly clipped Root's pad on the way through to Alex Carey.

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

    Joe Root of England batsGetty Images

    These England players are very talented and they are going to look back and think 'we made it too easy for these bowlers at times.'

    They just need to play without risk.

  8. Eng 121-3

    Some busy rotating of the strike off Mitchell Starc by Joe Root and Harry Brook.

    Scott Boland is loosening up to bowl from the Randwick End.

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    Went to the concourse to get a drink when the third wicket went, now having to watch it on a TV up here in case I’m the jinx.

    Liam in Sydney

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

    Harry Brook of England batsGetty Images

    There really is a lovely feel about this Test match.

    There is a counter attack from England so it does feel like even stevens at the moment.

  11. Eng 118-3

    Steven Finn has just said on commentary that Harry Brook looks like he has "head screwed on today".

    Brook elegantly flicks one off his heels to mid-wicket and he and Joe Root manage an all-run four.

    The first runs of the afternoon session

  12. Australia's players are back out at the SCG.

    Joe Root and Harry Brook have also emerged from that beautiful old pavilion.

  13. The other wicket to fall in the morning session was Jacob Bethell.

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    Am I the only English person able to read the stats for this series!? Crawley came in to this game as our leading run scorer for the series! If anyone has earned their place, it’s him.

    Richard S, Sydney

  15. Speaking of Zak Crawley. here's how he was dismissed in the morning session.

  16. Get Involved

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    Zak Crawley has played more Test matches than Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Trott, Smith, Dexter, Greig, Woakes, Swann, Laker, Lock, Verity, Harmison, Gough, Ames, Russell, Bedser, Amiss, Hendren… You go through the names and it’s quite something. Different eras, yes, but he’s had a full career, surely. Surely that’s enough time.

    Richard, Northants

    I like Crawley but I wonder if him only getting a 1-year central contract makes him the more likely of the 2 to come out in the summer, could make a case for both being dropped but then your starting the English summer with basically a new top 3.

    Tom B, Wolverhampton

  17. How's stat?

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    The threat from prodigious seam movement has been at it's lowest here at Sydney of all five venues in this Ashes series.

    In the opening session so far, the average seam movement from the seamers has been 0.54° - the lowest on the first session of the five opening days in this Ashes series.

    The threat from inconsistent bounce has also been at it's lowest - making it easy to bat on.

    Average Seam Movement on Day one, Session One - This Ashes series

    Perth - 0.57°

    Brisbane - 0.61°

    Adelaide - 0.57°

    Melbourne - 0.85°

    Sydney - 0.54°

    England will be disappointed losing three wickets here, but pleased at least with that Root-Brook partnership to steer the ship after being reduced to 57-3.

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    The texts into here just show how little cricket people watch apart from the Ashes. The idea Ben Duckett’s place is in doubt on the back of four poor Tests and one innings when his record over the last few years compares well to the majority of openers in Test cricket is just laughable. Get some perspective.

    Ian in Leeds

  19. Thanks, Elizabeth.

    I'm halfway through a pack of mince pies. Picked up for 20p from the supermarket. Also snared a 'luxury' limoncello panettone for an absolute steal.

    Crumbs of comfort as we sail into the wee small hours of the morning.

  20. As promised, I'm going to get out of the way.

    Here's Timothy Abraham to take you through lunch and the second session.