The Sydney Cricket Ground was abuzz on January 5, 2026, as Day 2 of the final Ashes Test delivered a spectacle worthy of cricket’s most storied rivalry. England’s Joe Root, already among the game’s modern greats, etched his name even deeper into the annals of Test cricket, while Australia’s Travis Head threatened to steal the spotlight with a counterattacking masterclass of his own. As the sun set over Sydney, the contest remained tantalizingly balanced, promising more drama in the days ahead.
England’s innings, which began with high hopes and a touch of uncertainty, found its anchor in Joe Root. The 35-year-old right-hander, fresh off a drought-breaking hundred in Brisbane, produced his best ever Test knock on Australian soil—an imperious 160 off 146 balls. This was his second century of the series and, remarkably, only his second in Australia across four Ashes tours. Root’s innings was a blend of composure, technical prowess, and determination, featuring 11 crisp boundaries and a celebration that mirrored his now-iconic shrug from Brisbane. “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 after reaching his milestone. The celebration, he added, "is a way of saying thank you."
Root’s landmark ton was more than just another number. It was his 41st Test century, placing him level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting on the all-time list. Only Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) sit above him. For a man who had played 14 Tests in Australia without a century before this series, the achievement carried extra weight. Former Australian batter Darren Lehmann, once skeptical of Root’s all-time greatness, was quick to praise him now. “He’ll break all the records. He’ll beat Tendulkar, he’ll make more hundreds than anyone else. And it’ll take a lot of catching because he’s quite fit,” Lehmann said on ABC Radio, calling Root “the best player outside of Bradman.”
England’s innings, however, was not a one-man show. Harry Brook, combining flair with a touch of fortune, contributed 84 runs in a partnership with Root worth 169—the best stand of the series for either side. Jamie Smith chipped in with an enterprising 46 before falling to the part-time medium pace of Marnus Labuschagne. The Australian bowlers had to work hard for their rewards, but Scott Boland (2-85) and Mitchell Starc (2-93) eventually made inroads. Starc, in particular, had the wood over England captain Ben Stokes, removing him for a duck for the fifth time in the series with a delivery that shaped away and took a thin edge to the keeper.
Michael Neser was the pick of the Australian attack, claiming 4 wickets for 60 runs, including three quick strikes that wrapped up the English innings just before tea. England’s total of 364 looked competitive, but with the pitch flattening out and a fast outfield, Australia sensed an opportunity.
Australia’s reply was nothing short of electric. Travis Head and Jake Weatherald raced to a 50-run opening partnership in just the 10th over, putting England’s bowlers immediately on the back foot. Head, in particular, was in a belligerent mood, reaching his half-century off just 55 balls and soon surpassing 500 runs for the series at a strike rate above 87. “Every ball he (Head) is looking to score,” Neser observed. “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.”
Ben Stokes, determined to keep England in the contest, made the first breakthrough by trapping Weatherald lbw for 21. But Head continued to plunder runs, forging a rapid 105-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne. The pair’s aggressive approach threatened to tilt the match decisively in Australia’s favor, but Stokes struck again late in the day, having Labuschagne caught at gully for 48 after a tense verbal exchange between the two. Australia finished the day at 166-2, with Head unbeaten on 91 from just 87 balls—poised for a third century of the series.
The closing overs brought further drama as Neser, sent in as nightwatchman, took a painful blow to the elbow but survived until stumps. The match, evenly poised, set the stage for a gripping third day. England’s bowlers, led by Stokes (2-30), will need to find a way to break through quickly if they’re to prevent Australia from building a commanding lead.
Root’s innings was not just about personal milestones. It was a statement of resilience and class, coming after a period of frustration in Australia that saw him dropped for the only time in his Test career at the SCG in 2013/14 and forced to retire hurt at the same venue in 2018 due to illness. As he walked off to a standing ovation from a near-capacity crowd, there was a sense that he had finally conquered his greatest challenge. With 24 Test centuries in just 66 matches since 2021, Root has not only cemented his place as England’s most prolific run-scorer but also as one of the finest batters of his generation. He now sits second on the all-time Test run-scorers list, trailing only Tendulkar’s monumental 15,921 runs, with Root currently on 13,906.
The Ashes, of course, had already been retained by Australia courtesy of wins in the first three Tests, but England’s drought-breaking victory in Melbourne last week—and Root’s form—have breathed new life into the contest. The Sydney Test, far from being a dead rubber, has become a showcase for individual brilliance and team pride. Both sides have plenty to play for: Australia, the chance to finish the series on a high; England, the opportunity to salvage further respect and momentum.
As Day 2 drew to a close, the sense of anticipation was palpable. Would Head convert his overnight score into another century? Could England’s bowlers claw their way back into the match? And might Root’s late-career surge propel him to even greater heights in the years to come? The answers will unfold in the coming days, but for now, the Ashes remain as captivating and unpredictable as ever.
With the match delicately balanced, both teams will return to the SCG knowing that a single session could swing the momentum. For Root and Head, the spotlight shines brightest—for their teams, the battle is far from over.
