Ashes : Patience rewards Brook, Root and Brook star duo for England before storm halts

Fifth Test, Day one: England 211-3, bad lighting stops the play. England’s unbeaten duo put best partnership of the series.

As the rain fell on the ground of Sydney Cricket Ground, cutting the opening day of the fifth Ashes Test, exactly at half number of overs allotted. Joe Root and Harry Brook build an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership of 154 runs, when top order shattered in front of Australia’s spinning in Sydney. The batters of England shows up a greater patience at the crease, Root’s crisp 72 runs and restless 78 from the bat of Brook.

Bad light has stopped play at the SCG, with Joe Root (72*) and Harry Brook (78*) at the crease.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2️⃣1️⃣1️⃣-3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/ZoufbizPho— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 4, 2026

Eyeing to the the close of five-test series on high, England ended a rain-hit Day 1 at 211/3 from 45 overs. In post match press conference, Harry Brook stated that you need to patient to grind up, further he said ” Thankfully, I did that today. I did that in a couple of the other innings as well. That’s something I’ve got out think about going forward and put that into my game”

As England batter’s return, early to the pavilion marking a strong start for Australia. Brook managed to take the scoreboard ticking with Root on non-striker end with a brisk pace making 78* off 92.

“I look to try and be a little bit more patient at times. Like I said a couple of weeks ago, absorb the pressure. Whether that’s taking my ones instead of trying to hit boundaries, then so be it.

It’s obviously worked this series, because I haven’t scored as many runs as I’d have liked” Brook stated.

As Australian bowlers returned to a familiar plan against Brook, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser and Scott Boland testing his batting ability post lunch break.

“It’s obviously a ploy which has been used against my whole career.

“I’ve experienced it a lot so far and I’m expecting to experience it a lot in the future.

“I thought I played it alright. I could have played it better at times. It didn’t feel amazing today, but on another day it’ll feel a hell of a lot better.

“I’m happy that I just got through it and take that momentum forward to tomorrow.” He added.

Highlights of the match –