Joe Root and Harry Brook orchestrated a superb fightback with an unbroken 154-run stand, guiding England to 211-3, before bad light and persistent showers washed out the evening session on Day 1 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The tourists, trailing 3-1 in the series, had been in danger of squandering friendly batting conditions after winning the toss for the fourth time this tour.
They slumped to 57-3 as Ben Duckett (27), Zak Crawley (16), and Jacob Bethell (10) fell in quick succession.
However, Root and Brook steadied the innings emphatically, building England’s highest partnership of the series. Root looked sublime in reaching 72 not out, poised for his second century in Australia, while Brook moved to 78, closing in on his first Ashes hundred in his 10th Test against the hosts.
Barring an incisive opening burst where they took three wickets in 13 overs, Australia’s bowling was wayward.
In a historic selection move, the hosts omitted off-spinner Todd Murphy, opting against a specialist spinner in a Sydney Test for the first time since 1888.
Bad light halted play at 14:55 local time, followed by intermittent showers.
Despite clearing skies and improved light later, umpires frustratingly abandoned play two hours later with 45 of the day’s 90 overs left unbowled.
By James Kisoo
