England's star batsmen, Joe Root and Harry Brook, staged a commanding fightback on the opening day of the final Ashes Test in Sydney, their unbroken 154-run partnership exposing the folly of Australia's team selection and leaving the hosts searching for answers.
Early wobble gives way to dominant stand
The day began in a familiarly chaotic fashion for this series. England raced to 35 runs from the first 40 balls before losing both openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, in quick succession. The situation worsened when Jacob Bethell, looking assured, edged Scott Boland to leave the tourists in trouble at 57 for three.
However, the anticipated collapse never materialised. As the ball softened, the prodigious seam movement that accounted for the early wickets subsided. This allowed the experienced Root and the explosive Brook to settle, building a partnership that shifted the momentum decisively in England's favour. They finished the rain-affected day with England on a strong 211 for three.
Australia's bowling strategy under the microscope
The resilience of the English pair threw a harsh spotlight onto Australia's contentious team composition. For the third time this series, the home side opted against selecting a specialist spinner at the Sydney Cricket Ground. More critically, they entered the match without a genuine fourth frontline bowler.
All-rounders Beau Webster and Cameron Green were tasked with supporting the main trio of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Michael Neser. The move backfired spectacularly. Green was particularly targeted, especially by the aggressive Harry Brook, and conceded runs at over seven an over. Webster's brief two-over spell offered no control either. The partnership underscored how both players are, at best, a fifth bowling option, leaving the Australian attack looking threadbare once the new-ball threat faded.
What happens next on day two?
Australia will cling to the hope that a fresh burst from Mitchell Starc on the second morning can break the Root-Brook axis and drag them back into the contest. The pace spearhead's speed remained high, though his accuracy wavered at times. His teammates now face the task of reverting to traditional Test match pressures: building sustained spells and waiting for mistakes.
If Root and Brook can continue their resistance, they will heap scoreboard pressure on an Australian side that has gambled with its balance. After a series characterised by frenetic passages of play, this first day in Sydney finally felt steady and normal – a normality defined by England's batting dominance and a selection decision from the home camp that already appears questionable.
