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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
LIVE: Can Root and Brook build from Day 1 performance?
SEN • January 5th, 2026 11:32 am
- England start Day 2 on 3/211 with Joe Root (72) and Harry Brook (78) not out
- Rain and bad light on Day 1 has meant that we'll start 30 minutes earlier (10am local time)
It's Day 2 of the Fifth Ashes Test here at the Sydney Cricket Ground and England find themselves in a commanding position following a strong partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook seeing England on 3/211 at the start of the day's play.
Will the Yorkshire duo continue where they left off or can Australia strike back with some quick wickets?
9:30am - Broad: Australia might "live to regret" not picking spinner
"You've got to change the rhythm at times," Broad said on SEN Cricket.
"Not necessarily has to spin, but you want to be able to get a batter triggering different and just change the tempo of the game.
"It looks like a Steve Smith decision... that he doesn't want to play a spinner. He thinks the pitches are seeming around so much that he doesn't need a spinner but at 3 for 211... Australia might live to regret that.
"Ultimately, yes, they might not bowl in conditions later in the game that might suit the spin, but you just never know on surfaces.
"One just might grip, a batter might just make a mistake and slog sweep one down deep mid-wicket, deep mid, and it feels like a bit of a missed opportunity for Australia.
"Nathan Lyon's 38. He's got a torn hamstring. He might come back and might have a hunger to play for two more years or whatever, but they're going to have to blood a spinner at some stage.
"Just give Todd Murphy a go, just see what he does.
"I thought the attack looked quite samey yesterday and, and they're not going to learn anything from Todd Murphy mixing the drinks."
9am - Welcome to the live blog
A big warm welcome to wherever you may be finding us for Day 2 of the Fifth Ashes Test here at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Day 1 wasn't quite Australia's day despite a positive start with three quick wickets in the first 12 overs.
But with a good night's rest, they'll be hopeful that today is more bountiful for their wicket haul.
England, on the other hand, are hoping that their two best batters can continue to accumulate runs and really put the hosts to the sword with a big total to chase.
