35-Year-Old Michael Neser Takes Superb Catch To Deny Joe Root Historic 200 At SCG | Watch

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Star Australia pacer Michael Neser on Monday took a stunner to dismiss ace England batter Joe Root, who was batting on 160, denying him the opportunity to score a historic double hundred at the Sydney

Cricket Ground, on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the Ashes.

Coming in to bat at 51/2 at Day 1, Root built a potentially match-winning 169-run partnership with Harry Brook. After England found themselves at 229/5 early on Day 2, Root and Jamie Smith added 94 runs for the sixth wicket.

After the latter was dismissed by Marnus Labuschagne, Root and Will Jacks added 52 runs for the seventh wicket. But the latter’s dismissal triggered a collapse and England were bowled out for 384.

But till Root was there on the crease, one believed that the visitors would definitely go past the 400-run mark. It took a stunner from Neser to get the better of the former, which gave Australia some respite.

The delivery from Neser, first of the 98th over, rose on Root and the bounce hit the sticker on the bat as the latter looked to flick. Neser sensed an opportunity and ran across to his right, dived right on time and grabbed the ball with just his right hand.

Watch the video here:

It took an absolute blinder from Michael Neser to dimiss Joe Root, who departs for 160 👏 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/FeaKvT8Ybi

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2026

The tourists resumed on 211/3 with Root on 72 and Brook 78 at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground.

Root plundered a 41st hundred before becoming the ninth wicket to fall. Brook chipped in with 84 and Jamie Smith 46.

Neser was the pick of the bowlers with 4/60, having dismissed Zak Crawley, Will Jacks and Josh Tongue for a two-ball duck.

Australia lead the five-Test series 3-1 after wins in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, which saw them retain the urn.

England restored pride with a lightning-quick victory over Australia inside two days at Melbourne.

Root also missed out on becoming the sixth batter in Test history to score a double hundred at the SCG. The first was England’s Tip Foster, who scored 287 back in 1903. He was followed by Brian Lara in 1993, Wally Hammond in 1928, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar in 2004 and Ravi Shastri in 1992.

Notably, Hammond scored another double hundred at the SCG in 1936 as well.