A classic encounter between two of the world's premier batters defined the second day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Joe Root compiled a superb 160 to lift England to 384, but a counter-attacking unbeaten 91 from Travis Head left the match evenly poised, with Australia finishing the day at 166-2. Ben Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne Engage In Heated Argument, England Captain Gives Australian Batter A 'Necksqueeze' During AUS vs ENG Ashes 2025-26 5th Test (Watch Video).

Joe Root Solidifies Legend Status

Resuming the day at 211-3, England relied heavily on Root, who navigated a disciplined Australian attack to notch his 41st Test century. The milestone drew him level with Australian great Ricky Ponting for the third-most hundreds in Test history.

Root’s 160-run effort was particularly significant, marking his best score in Australia across four tours. His innings eventually ended just before tea when he popped a return catch to Michael Neser, who was the pick of the Australian bowlers with figures of 4-60.

Australian Response Led by Head

Australia’s reply was characteristically aggressive. Openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald put on 57 runs in just 10 overs before Ben Stokes made the breakthrough, dismissing Weatherald leg-before-wicket for 21.

Head, however, continued his prolific form, reaching his half-century in 55 balls. By stumps, he had moved to 91 not out from just 87 deliveries, crossing the 500-run mark for the series. His partnership of 105 with Marnus Labuschagne anchored the hosts' response until a late twist in the final session.

Late Drama and Nightwatchman Struggles

The final hour saw a spike in intensity as England captain Ben Stokes engaged in a verbal exchange with Labuschagne regarding the fading light and delaying tactics. Stokes ultimately won the battle, inducing an edge from Labuschagne (48) to gully in the closing overs.

Michael Neser was sent in as a nightwatchman but faced a hostile final over from Stokes. Neser took a painful blow to the elbow from a rising delivery, requiring immediate medical attention on the pitch before play was eventually halted due to bad light. Australia Field Playing XI Without Spinner At Sydney For First Time in Tests; Captain Steve Smith Confirms Breaking 138-Year Tradition Ahead of Ashes 2025-26 5th Test Against England.

Background: The State of the Series

While Australia has already retained the Ashes with a 3-1 lead, the fifth Test in Sydney carries significant weight for the World Test Championship standings. England is looking to build on their momentum after a victory in the Boxing Day Test, while Australia aims to finish the summer with a dominant 4-1 series scoreline. Australia will resume on Day 3 trailing by 218 runs with eight wickets in hand.

TruLY Score by LatestLY
Rating:5

TruLY Score 5 – Trustworthy | On a Trust Scale of 0-5 this article has scored 5 on LatestLY. It is verified through official sources (Cricket Australia ). The information is thoroughly cross-checked and confirmed. You can confidently share this article with your friends and family, knowing it is trustworthy and reliable.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2026 04:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).