Fans React as Root and Brook steady England after early stumbles at SCG

This is a remarkable turnaround for England, who were routed in two days during the previous Test played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with Australia suffering a four-wicket loss at their hands; thus avoiding the whitewash of the complete series due to losing the Ashes Urn to Australia before 2025-26.

At the beginning of the fifth Test held in Sydney between Australia and England, England won the toss and skipper Ben Stokes elected to bat. Significantly, this match represents the final appearance of Usman Khawaja as an Australian cricketer, as he had recently announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket during an unexpectedly heated press conference.

Although England lost early wickets, with only 57 runs on the scoreboard when they found themselves at 5 for 3, Joe Root and Harry Brook fought back for their team. At the close of the first day’s play, Root had scored 72 runs off 78 balls, and Brook was on 78 runs off 85 balls, both scored with the aid of a half-dozen fours and one six. Together, they added an unbroken partnership of 154 runs for the fourth wicket and finished Day 1 with a total of 211 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.

The final Test match between India and Australia will take place on Sunday, January 4. The morning session, beginning on the second day of play at 5 AM IST and continuing for two hours until 7 AM IST, will be preceded by a 40-minute lunch break. The second session will then commence at 7:40 AM IST, running until 9:40 AM IST. Followed by a 20-minute tea break and the last sessions of Day 2 at SCG from 10 AM IST until 12 PM IST, allowing an additional 30 minutes to fulfill the day’s over requirement.

Here’s How Fans Reacted to Day 1 & 2

Fan Reacts to Joe Root’s Second Test Century in Australia

Makes it look so simple. Plays to his strengths again… not bullshit Bazball shots. In total control of his game.

— Anthony Spiteri (@anthonyspiteri) January 5, 2026

Fans React to Joe Root’s Game

Average Joe Doing the business for England, as always, Second time he's done it down under.#Ashes #AUSvsENG

— GAURAV (@crazyGaurav_) January 5, 2026

Twitter Reacts to the Heated Moment Between Ben Stokes and Labuschagne

Marnus needs to be dropped so he can actually focus on his batting. He has been consistently average for more than two years..

— Waѕiyullah Budye (@WasiyullahB) January 5, 2026

Fans React to Jamie Smith’s Shot When He Was Dismissed

England’s problem is that their players have forgotten how to play Test cricket. They try to go hard in every over, and that approach ends up hurting them more often than helping.

— yaser khan (@ar_yaserkhan) January 5, 2026

Twitter Reacts to Harry Brook’s Shot

That shot really captures the spirit of Aussie cricket and do you think the next Ashes will give us more moments like this?

— Reply girl 😁 (@sanvi_sharma_0) January 4, 2026