The Ashes 2025-26: England start fifth Test well before Sydney weather intervenes
England’s promising start to the fifth Ashes Test against Australia was disrupted by poor light and rain on the opening day in Sydney.
Joe Root and Harry Brook had led the tourists to 211-3 when the weather came to spoil the evening session at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The fourth wicket pair added an unbroken 154, England’s highest partnership in a series in which they trailed 3-1.
After captain Ben Stokes won the toss for the fourth time on the tour, England were in danger of wasting their warm-up batting conditions by falling to 57-3.
Ben Duckett caught behind Mitchell Starc for 27, Zak Crawley edged past Michael Neser for 16 to be kept lbw on 16 and Jacob Bethell needlessly nudged Scott Boland on 10.
The visitors had lost two wickets for six runs and Root and Brook were both nil, with only England’s two best batsmen combining.
Root has put in a great performance after not being able to make 72 appearances and has a chance to get his second hundred in this country.
Brook, 78, is approaching his first Ashes hundred in his 10th Test against Australia.
Apart from the opening burst, the home side were erratic with the ball as they took three wickets in the first 13 overs. By skipping off-spinner Todd Murphy, Australia opted not to field a specialist spinner in the Sydney Test for the first time since 1888.
Bad light halted play at 14:55 local time, followed by torrential rain. Despite dry weather and improving light, play was frustratingly abandoned after two hours, leaving half of the day’s 90 overs unplayed.
