Joe Root says offering thanks, not bidding farewell, after Sydney century

January 5, 2026 4:46 PM

Joe Root says offering thanks, not bidding farewell, after Sydney century

England's Joe Root paused as he left the field to salute all four corners of the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday after making a fine 160 in the fifth Ashes test, but the 35-year-old does not want to consider if this is his final bow in Australia. Root showed all of his qualities of composure, technique, timing and patience to compile his second century of this series having headed out to Australia never having made three figures in the country. Asked about his gesture to the crowd after he was...

Ashes 5th Test: Root ton fires England before Head strikes back for Australia

January 5, 2026 4:44 PM

Ashes 5th Test: Root ton fires England before Head strikes back for Australia

Joe Root contributed a magnificent 160 to England's first-innings tally of 384 but Travis Head drove Australia to 166 for two in response on the second day of the fifth and final Ashes test on Monday. England's hopes of winning the urn are long gone after defeats in the first three tests of the series but they continued to show the spirit, lacking in previous beaten touring sides, that was evident in their victory in Melbourne last week. Until Australia took the second new ball, Root looked in...

Ashes: Harry Brook finally shows the patience and control his critics have demanded

January 4, 2026 4:23 PM

Ashes: Harry Brook finally shows the patience and control his critics have demanded

England batsman Harry Brook struck his highest score of the Ashes series on Sunday, ending the first day of the fifth test on 78 not out after showing the kind of patience and discipline that he has too often lacked on a disappointing tour. Brook still rode his luck at times, particularly when he was tempted into pull shots by Australia's short-pitched bowling, but his 154-run partnership with fellow Yorkshireman Joe Root left England in a good position at 211 for three when bad light and rain ...

Ashes: Root, Brook lift England to 211/3 as bad weather forces early stumps on Day 1 at SCG

January 4, 2026 12:58 PM

Ashes: Root, Brook lift England to 211/3 as bad weather forces early stumps on Day 1 at SCG

England enjoyed one of their better days of the Ashes series on Sunday when a 154-run stand between Joe Root and Harry Brook drove them to 211 for three before the opening day of the fifth test was brought to a premature end at Sydney Cricket Ground. Play was stopped for bad light 20 minutes before tea with storm clouds threatening, and abandoned to boos from the remnants of the 49,574 crowd some 90 minutes before the scheduled close of play. At 3-1 down in what has been a mostly miserable ser...

Ashes: Usman Khawaja announces international retirement, Sydney Test to be his swansong

January 2, 2026 9:46 AM

Ashes: Usman Khawaja announces international retirement, Sydney Test to be his swansong

Usman Khawaja will be retiring from international cricket after this week's fifth Ashes test against England at Sydney Cricket Ground, the Australia batsman said on Friday. The 39-year-old made his test debut at the same ground in the final match of the 2010-11 Ashes series and has since scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39 in 87 matches, including 16 centuries. "I'm here to announce today that I'll be retiring from all international cricket after the SCG test match," Khawaja told reporter...