The Sydney Cricket Ground played host to a rare and riveting day of Ashes cricket on January 4, 2026, as England’s Joe Root and Harry Brook stitched together a partnership that not only rescued their side from early trouble but also gave fans a glimpse of what might have been, had this form arrived earlier in the series. With the urn already secured by Australia, England’s late resurgence was bittersweet, yet undeniably compelling.
Root, England’s most prolific Test batter, and Brook, widely hailed as the brightest batting talent of his generation, came together with England floundering at 57 for 3. The top order—Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, and Jacob Bethell—had all departed cheaply, reigniting that all-too-familiar sense of dread among England supporters. But what followed was cricket at its most absorbing: a blend of poise, aggression, and, for once, the absence of panic.
By the time bad light and rain ended play prematurely just before tea, Root was unbeaten on 72 from 103 deliveries, while Brook had powered his way to 78 not out off 92 balls. Their partnership of 154 runs off just 193 balls was England’s highest of the series and the quickest the tourists have ever reached 200 runs in Australia—a testament to both the quality of the batting and the friendliness of the SCG wicket. The run rate ticked along at a brisk 4.68, yet boundaries were relatively sparse, as Root and Brook focused on accumulation rather than fireworks.
For England fans in Sydney, it was a rare afternoon of calm. The usual collective anxiety was replaced by a sense of trust in the men at the crease. As one observer put it, “For the first time this series, England fans in Sydney could gaze off into the distance. Safe in the knowledge that Root was dropping the ball at his toes for a single.” The crowd of 49,574—the largest for a Test at the SCG in 50 years—witnessed a day where, for once, England finished on top.
Yet the context of the series loomed large. England’s overall performance had been disappointing, with only three batters averaging more than 25 and the leading wicket-taker conceding nearly five runs per over. Part-time spinner Will Jacks, pressed into service due to team selection gambles, had bowled a staggering 50 overs for 246 runs during the series. Chronic underperformance had become the buzz-phrase of the week, and this late display of competence only served to highlight what might have been. As Fox Cricket’s Kerry O’Keeffe remarked, “If they had done this early in the series, it could have been a completely different shape, but they are doing it when it has been resolved.”
Root’s innings was not just significant in the context of the match. By reaching his century the following day with a straight drive off Michael Neser, Root drew level with Ricky Ponting on 41 Test centuries, placing him behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis on the all-time list. Former Australian star Mark Waugh was effusive in his praise, stating, “It is a super innings. He had his doubters coming to Australia, but he has made two (centuries) this series. He is an elite player.” Brett Lee added, “What a player. What a career. The reason he has been so successful over the past decade or so is that he has all the shots in the book.”
Brook’s contribution was equally vital, if somewhat more frenetic. He survived a few nervous moments—an inside edge that narrowly missed the stumps and a top edge that fell safely between three fielders—but counterpunched with authority, singling out Cameron Green for particular punishment. Waugh commented, “He has the potential to be as good as any player to have batted for England. He is a superb player now but he can get even better.” O’Keeffe, meanwhile, suggested that Brook could be the foundation around which England rebuilds, calling him “box office.”
The partnership between Root and Brook now sits third among all England duos in terms of average for partnerships that have scored 2,000 or more runs, behind only the legendary pairs of Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe, and Ken Barrington and Ted Dexter. Their stand was only the fifth century partnership of the series and looked set to surpass the 162-run effort by Travis Head and Alex Carey in Adelaide as the largest of the Ashes.
But the day was also notable for what didn’t happen: for the first time in 137 years, neither side selected a front-line spin bowler in a Sydney Test. The decision to omit Todd Murphy, despite his quality, sparked outrage among Australian cricket traditionalists. Former coach Justin Langer fumed, “I absolutely cannot believe they haven’t picked a spinner,” while Fox Sports’ Kerry O’Keeffe threatened, only half in jest, to “take the selection panel to the Hague.” Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith later admitted he “hated” leaving Murphy out but felt the wicket demanded seam bowling. England, for their part, continued to favor part-time spin from Will Jacks over a specialist, a move that arguably cost them control in earlier matches.
The SCG wicket, curated by Adam Lewis, was a batter’s paradise, offering little for the bowlers after the initial new-ball burst. Anything under 400 was considered below par, and the fast outfield only added to the run-scoring opportunities. The decision to call off play early, despite the sun peeking through after the rain, left some wondering if there was a subtle desire to ensure the match lasted the full five days, especially after two two-day Tests earlier in the summer had dented Cricket Australia’s coffers.
In the end, the day belonged to Root and Brook, who not only rescued England from another batting collapse but also restored a measure of pride to a side that had, until now, failed to meet expectations. As Adam Gilchrist observed, the pair “steered England beautifully” over a three-hour period before bad light intervened, providing a long-overdue reminder of the team’s capabilities.
With the match set to extend into a third day and possibly go the distance, both sides will be eyeing the weather and the pitch conditions. For England, the challenge remains to translate these flashes of brilliance into consistent performances. For Australia, the absence of a specialist spinner and the selection debates will continue to dominate the headlines. But for one afternoon in Sydney, cricket fans were treated to the kind of high-quality contest that the Ashes, at its best, always promises.
As play resumes, all eyes will be on whether Root can convert his overnight score into another landmark century and whether Brook can continue to cement his status as England’s next great hope. Whatever unfolds, the Sydney crowd—and viewers around the world—can savor a day that reminded everyone why Test cricket remains the sport’s ultimate test of skill, patience, and nerve.
