Australia and England another absorbing chapter served Ash Theater at the Sydney Cricket Ground as the Fifth Test 2025-26 series rolled into a dramatic Day 2 under pink ball lights. England rode a vintage on a surface that offered enough for the sears but was truer than before in the series. Joe Root masterclass will send a huge 384 in his first shots
Joe Root equals Ricky Ponting with 41st Test century
Root Pink lit up the Test with a stunning 160, his second hundred of the series and 41st in Test cricket, level with the Australian legend. Ricky Ponting on the all-time century list. When punched, the iconic classic Root arrived in fashion Michael Neser He got the SCG crowd roaring as he pumped his fist, raised his bat and kissed the England badge as he went down the ground for two to reach three figures from 146 balls, reflecting his status as the heartbeat of this team.
In an extraordinary Ashes scene and in the iconic Pink Test dedicated to the McGrath Foundation, Root’s innings felt central to the narrative of the series, especially given his century-long chase in Australia early in his career. Fans took to social platforms, cheering him on and pointing out how far Root has come in the great pantheon of Test batting, noting the same symmetry he has with Ponting in his own backyard.
England came reeling at 57/3 after the crisp new ball burst Mitchell StarcNeser and Scott Bolandbut he quickly imposed composure with his impeccable balance, soft hands and surgical strike spin. With his 154 run stand Harry Brooke the fourth wicket changed the innings; Brook’s counter-attack of 84 for 97, laced with six fours and a six, released the pressure and forced Australia’s attack into the defensive line. Although rain, bad light and multiple interruptions cut Day 1 to 211/3, Root was back in the limelight on Day 2, going from 72 to 150 in 226 balls overnight before falling to Neser’s sharp 160-ball comeback catch to give up his first double-ton of the series.
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Here’s how the fans reacted:
Sachin set the pinnacle
Joe Root still has a way to go#Ash #Ashes2025pic.twitter.com/XsFNZR8sqn
— Bella (@Boundary_Babe) January 5, 2026
MOST TEST CENTURIES BY FAB 4 (Update Jan 2026): Joe Root – 41* (163 matches) 👑
Steve Smith – 36 (123 matches)
Kane Williamson – 33 (108 games)
Virat Kohli – 30 (123 matches) Root equals Ponting’s tally with his latest Ashes masterpiece! England’s governing machine… pic.twitter.com/msr47zjych— Vikram Singh 🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@deora40676) January 5, 2026
Excellent 100 by Joe Root
Arrived at 51/2
The score was reduced to 57/3
He scored a perfect 160 points
He formed an important partnership with Harry Brook, who scored a brilliant 84 pic.twitter.com/1G0V2ct8hb-Sashank (@sas_3343) January 5, 2026
🚨GAP 1984 ONLY WORKS🚨
Sachin Tendulkar – 15921 runs.
Joe Root – 13937 runs pic.twitter.com/ltMVb8bnGW
— Ravi (@RaviWritess) January 5, 2026
24 TEST HUNDREDS IN ENGLAND
4 Try FACES IN THE WEST INDIES
Try 3 FACES IN INDIA
TRY 3 HUNDREDS IN NEW ZEALAND
3 HUNDRED TRIALS IN SRI LANKA
TRIAL 2 HUNDREDS IN AUSTRALIA
1 HUNDRED TESTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1 HUNDRED TEST IN PAKISTANJOE ROOT IS LIKE THE GREATEST BRITISH KNOWLEDGE… pic.twitter.com/pMp6AQWB3Q
— Rahul Yadav (@RahulYadav61762) January 5, 2026
Joe Root continues to climb the all-time ladder:
– More 150+ Test scores than Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardene
– Just 3 less than Sachin Tendulkar (most in Tests)
– Just 1 less than Don Bradman
– 2 less than Brian Lara and Kumar Sangakkara
– Now 5th all-time for 150+… pic.twitter.com/BrPoG5KQPM— Vipin Tiwari (@Vpintiwari952) January 5, 2026
🏟 TEST CENTURIES AMONG THE FOURTH CENTURIES
JOE ROOT – 41* FROM 163 MATCHES
STEVE SMITH – 36 FROM 123 MATCHES
KANE WILLIAMSON – 33 FROM 108 MATCHES
VIRAT KOHLI – 30 FROM 123 MATCHES#JoeRoot #SteveSmith #Ash #Ashes2025 #ash25 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/w5BMSHF8NU— Rahul Yadav (@RahulYadav61762) January 5, 2026
Joe Root’s magnificent 160 at the SCG – his 41st Test century, equals Ponting’s and Down’s second ton under this series. We haven’t talked enough about his genius. To me, he is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Pure class. #Ash #JoeRoot” pic.twitter.com/sNlt1bJbPg
— Manas Pisolkar (@ManasPisolkar) January 5, 2026
🗣️ Root can’t score hundreds in Australia
Joe Root scored two hundreds in this Ashes with two different colored balls 🥶 pic.twitter.com/JtRRkh3Rtm
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) January 5, 2026
Joe Root’s masterclass at the SCG 🌟#JoeRoot #Ashes2025 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/tgDDP05qJv
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 5, 2026
England’s 384 puts Australia under early pressure
England’s total of 384 felt bigger in context given how bowlers dominated this Ashes, and it was built around meaningful contributions through the order after Root and Brook laid the platform. Jamie Smith important addition 46, riding his luck before finding smooth, while Will JacksA patient 27 in a 50-run stand with Root for the seventh wicket helped push England past 350, dashing Australia’s hopes of a quick conclusion.
The innings went through clear phases: early turbulence at 51/2, consolidation to 114/3 by lunch on Day 1, then afternoon acceleration as the Root-Brook partnership took England past 200 and finally 226/4 before Brook was dismissed. At 336/6 at lunch on Day 2, with Root on 138 and the second new ball taken soon after, the Australian bowlers fell into their third and fourth spells and the pink ball lost much of its bite, allowing Root to graze the tail and take England to 384 in 97.3 seconds.
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