A magnificent 160 from Joe Root gave England their best total of the Ashes tour, but a blistering, unbeaten 91 from Travis Head ensured Australia hit back strongly on day two of the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Root's Masterclass Lifts England
Resuming on his overnight score of 72, Joe Root converted it into a masterful 160, a performance that stood head and shoulders above his teammates. In front of a crowd of 46,000 at the SCG, the former captain batted for six-and-a-half hours across two days, dragging England to a first-innings total of 384 all out.
This was England's highest score of a difficult campaign, surpassing their previous best of 352 in Adelaide. Root's 41st Test century brought him level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting on the all-time list, behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis.
He shared significant partnerships, adding 169 with Harry Brook (84) and 94 with the erratic Jamie Smith (46). Root's innings, featuring 15 boundaries, provided a sense of control and closure at a ground where he was famously dropped in 2014.
England's Soft Underbelly Exposed
Despite Root's brilliance, England's innings was punctuated by careless dismissals that prevented a truly commanding total. Harry Brook fell early on day two, tamely poking Scott Boland to slip when just 16 runs shy of a maiden Ashes hundred.
Captain Ben Stokes was dismissed for an 11-ball duck, but the most profligate shot came from Jamie Smith. On 46, Smith stepped away to slap a part-time delivery from Marnus Labuschagne straight to cover, a dismissal symptomatic of England's errant shot selection throughout the series.
Australia's bowlers, led by Michael Neser (3-72), rallied with the second new ball, taking the final four English wickets for just nine runs. Root was finally dismissed by a diving return catch from Neser.
Head's Blistering Counter-Attack Shifts Momentum
Any hopes England had of building pressure were swiftly dismantled by a characteristically aggressive innings from Travis Head. He and Jake Weatherald launched a furious assault on a patched-up English attack, missing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Gus Atkinson.
The pair clattered 50 runs from the first 10 overs. Although Stokes removed Weatherald lbw and later had Labuschagne caught at gully, Head was unstoppable, racing to 91 not out from just 75 balls by stumps.
His innings, full of powerful cuts and straight drives, took his series tally past 500 runs and guided Australia to 166 for two at the close, just 218 runs behind. England's bowling lacked consistency, with Matthew Potts conceding 58 from seven overs on his return, while Ben Duckett dropped a straightforward chance off Weatherald.
The day ended with tensions high, as Stokes engaged in heated words with Labuschagne, and Root off the field receiving treatment for back pain. Australia, powered by Head's brilliance, had decisively seized the initiative back from England.
