Fifth Test, Day 1. Sydney Cricket Ground

And so to the final Test. Perth seems such a long time ago. With gloriuos weather to start the day, we were all hopeful of a good days play.

The day got off to an emotional start (for me) as the first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack were recognised including the guy who got the gun off one of the attackers.

I always try to capture the first ball of a Test in case Crawley edges it, but he and Duckett got us off to a reasonable start, putting on 35 for the first wicket, Duckett going first caught behind of Starc just as he had got going. Crawley went lbw next playing around a straight one from Neser with total on 51, and then Bethell played at one from Boland that he perhaps could have left, but it was a good ball and Carey did the rest behind the stumps. That was 3-57, with three bowlers sharing the spoils with one apiece. And now Root and Brook were at the crease both on 0 and things could've gone quickly downhill from there, but the Yorkshire boys steadied the ship and played proper Test cricket for the afternoon session until the rain and bad light intervened at 3 o'clock, with a partnership of 154 the highest for England in the series. If only they had done that in Perth... I stuck around until 5pm hoping for more play but no luck

There were some very poor field settings from Smith which allowed Root and Brook to take singles and twos with ease. At any rate the first session tomorrow will be interesting, and hopefully they can carry on where they left off today

First ball of the fifth Test

The SCG is a quaint ground I think, and I couldn't resist taking a picture of the Pavilion and the Don Bradman Stand.

The member's pavilion

The Don Bradman Stand






Comments

  1. Ian Dutton4 January 2026 at 02:24

    Is any more rain forecast for next few days? 🤔

    ReplyDelete

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