Travis Head hit back in response to Joe Root's outstanding century as Australia fought back on the second day of the final Ashes Test against England in Sydney.
Having resumed unbeaten on 72 as England
attempted to turn their 211-3 start into a big score, Root reached 160 for his second ton of this series, only for some sloppy bowling from the tourists to allow Australia back in.
England were utterly dominant throughout the first half of the day, with Root - who only made his first Ashes century in the second Test at the Gabba - reaching 242 balls faced, 15 of which went for fours.
His wicket was the penultimate one to fall in England's innings as Michael Neser took a terrific diving catch off his own bowling, but by that point, the tourists' batting order was already crumbling.
England lost their final seven wickets for 158 runs and their final four for a mere nine runs, with Jamie Smith's calamitous dismissal kick-starting their collapse.
Having already survived being caught off a no-ball, Smith (46) pulled an awful shot from Marnus Labuschagne's delivery, which landed straight in the palms of Scott Boland.
England's score of 384 all out would feel rather underwhelming by stumps as Head inched towards a ton of his own, making 91 runs off 87 balls faced.
Brydon Carse (0-43) and Matthew Potts (0-58) proved expensive with the ball, leaving England only 218 runs ahead by the close of play despite captain Ben Stokes accounting for Jake Weatherald (21) and Labuschagne (48), with Australia sitting at 166-2.
Data Debrief: Root climbs the charts, but Head hits back
Root's century was his 41st in Test, taking him joint-third in the all-time charts for the format, level with Australia great Ricky Ponting.
41 - Joe Root's (@englandcricket) 160 today is his 41st Test hundred, equalling Ricky Ponting (41 for Australia) for the 3rd most in the history of the men's format; only Sachin Tendulkar (51 for India) & Jacques Kallis (45 for ICC & South Africa) have made more. Mighty.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/q9l8u1taXk
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) January 5, 2026
Only Sachin Tendulkar (51 for India) and Jacques Kallis (45 for ICC and South Africa) have made more red-ball tons.
However, Root spent much of the final hour of play off the field after experiencing back spasms, as Head took the fight to England.
Head's 528 runs in the 2025-26 Ashes are comfortably the most of any batter, ahead of Root on 394, and he could now make his 12th ton in Test cricket when play resumes on day three.
