Root and Head’s batting mastery highlights Day 2 of 5th Ashes test

SYDNEY (AP) — Joe Root posted his second hundred of the series for England and Travis Head closed in on his third for Australia as Day 2 of the final Ashes test closed evenly poised on Monday.

England was bowled out just before tea for 364 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Root leading with a masterful 160 for his best test score in Australia from his four Ashes tours.

At stumps, Australia was 166-2 in reply with Head again in imperious form as he slashed his way to 91 not out from 87 balls.

Ben Stokes took both wickets for England, which struggled to stem the flow of runs in the evening session before the wicket of the well-set Marnus Labuschagne late in the day.

Root’s milestone ton

Root showed all the composure of a 163-test veteran as he notched his 41st century off 146 balls, with 11 boundaries and celebrated with the same shrug gesture as when he broke through for his first hundred in four Ashes tours at Brisbane last month.

Australia retained the Ashes with wins in the first three tests, but England is coming off a drought-breaking win in the fourth test at Melbourne last week.

“I just felt like we’ve had some amazing support throughout this series and we’ve not been able to achieve what we set out to as a group, but at no point has that (support) ever wavered,” Root said. The celebration “is a way of saying thankyou.”

Root’s innings finally ended when he popped a return catch to Michael Neser, who dived across the pitch to grasp the ball just inches above the ground.

While his disappointment was evident as he walked from the field, he received a standing ovation from the near-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground in what may be his last tour of a country that had provided his greatest batting challenge.

Root is now level with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the all-time list of test centurymakers. Only Sachin Tendulker (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) have more.

Bowlers chip away

Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc made early breakthroughs Monday after Root and Harry Brook’s partnership had moved to 169 runs and was threatening to take the test away from the hosts.

Boland (2-85) ended Brook’s equal parts streaky and sublime innings at 84, with Steve Smith taking a sharp catch to bring to a close the best partnership of the series across both teams.

Starc (2-93) removed England skipper Stokes (0) for the fifth time this series with a near unplayable delivery that shaped away from the left-hander which took a thin edge on its way through to Alex Carey.

Jamie Smith made an enterprising, and at times fortunate, 46 before he holed-out to the part-time medium pace of Labuschagne.

Root and Jacks then combined for 54-run partnership before Neser’s (4-60) three quick strikes wrapped up the innings.

Aussies’ rapid reply

Australia’s innings got off to a fast start with Head and Jake Weatherald raising 50 in just the 10th over.

Stokes (2-30) entered the attack to stem the runs and soon had Weatherald (21) trapped lbw to have Australia at 57-1.

Head continued the attack and raised his 50 from 55 balls and soon after passed 500 runs for the series, at a strike rate above 87.

“Every ball he (Head) is looking to score,” Neser said. “He is not trying to work it around or grind it out. And most times he creates more opportunities than normal batters, because he is so talented.”

Labuschagne also found form and with Head plundered a 105-run partnership in quick time.

In the fading light, Labuschagne and Stokes had a verbal exchange across several overs with the England captain showing and voicing his displeasure at the Australian’s delaying tactics.

Stokes eventually had Labuschagne (48) caught at gully and Australia was 162-2.

Neser went in as nightwatchman for 15 minutes and took a painful blow on the elbow in the final over.

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