The Ashes 2025-26: England start fifth Test well before Sydney weather intervenes

England’s promising start to the fifth Ashes Test against Australia was curtailed by bad light and rain on the opening day in Sydney.

Joe Root and Harry Brook had taken the tourists to 211-3 when the weather arrived to wipe out the evening session at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The fourth-wicket pair added an unbroken 154, England’s highest partnership of a series in which they are 3-1 down.

After captain Ben Stokes won the toss for the fourth time on the tour, England were in danger of wasting some friendly batting conditions when they slipped to 57-3.

Ben Duckett was caught behind off Mitchell Starc for a breezy 27, Zak Crawley played all around Michael Neser to be lbw for 16 and Jacob Bethell needlessly poked at Scott Boland on 10.

The visitors had lost two wickets for six runs and Root and Brook were both on nought, only for England’s best two batters to combine.

Root was sublime for his 72 not out and has the opportunity for his second hundred in this country.

Brook, on 78, is closing in on his first Ashes hundred in his 10th Test against Australia.

Bar the opening burst, when they claimed three wickets in the first 13 overs, the hosts were wayward with the ball. In omitting off-spinner Todd Murphy, Australia opted against selecting a specialist spinner in a Sydney Test for the first time since 1888.

Bad light stopped play at 14:55 local time, with showers then blowing in and out. Despite dry weather and improved light, play was frustratingly abandoned two hours later with half of the day’s 90 overs left unbowled.