Fans erupted in frenzy as Travis Head‘s ferocious 91 not out overshadowed Joe Root‘s gritty 160 on a thrilling Day 2 of the 5th Ashes Test at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 4, 2026. Australia, already clinching the series 3-1, trail England‘s first innings 384 by 218 runs at 166/2 after 34.1 overs. The Pink Ashes finale delivered edge-of-seat drama with centuries contested and boundaries flying under Sydney skies.
Joe Root’s resilient century takes England to a formidable total
England resumed at 211/3 with Root on 72 and Harry Brook on 78, building momentum on a batter-friendly pitch. Root anchored the innings masterfully, converting his overnight score into a majestic 160 off 242 balls with 15 fours, his 41st Test ton equalling Ricky Ponting‘s mark. He shared a crucial 169-run stand with Brook (84 off 97, 6×4, 1×6) before Brook fell to Scott Boland at 226/4, then added 94 with Jamie Smith (46, 6×4, 1×6) to push past 300 in 69.1 overs.
Stokes (0) departed cheaply to Mitchell Starc soon after, but Root hit 150 off 226 balls amid partnerships like the 50-run seventh-wicket effort with Will Jacks (27). Michael Neser shone with 4/60, dismissing Root caught-and-bowled at 384/9, followed by Josh Tongue (0), as England folded in 97.3 overs at 3.93 RR. Boland (2/85) and Starc (2/93) supported, with surprise wickets from Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green, handing Australia a target to chase aggressively.
Travis Head’s explosive counterattack puts Australia on the driving seat at the end of Day 2
Australia’s reply ignited with openers Head and Jake Weatherald racing to 57/0 in 12 overs, crossing 50 in 9.2 overs. Weatherald (21, 4×4) fell lbw to Stokes at 57/1, but Head’s onslaught—50 off 55 balls (9×4)—propelled a 105-run second wicket alliance with Labuschagne (48, 7×4). They hit 100 in 20.3 overs and 150 in 28.5, despite DRS drama including Weatherald’s review and England’s failed lbw call on Labuschagne.
Stokes struck again, snaring Labuschagne at 162/2 in 30.6 overs, but unbeaten Head (91 off 87, 15×4, SR 104.59) dominated England’s attack. Matthew Potts leaked 58/0 in 7 overs, Brydon Carse 43/0 in 9, and Tongue 31/0 in 10, as Australia motored at 4.85 RR with 43/1 in last 10 overs. Rain and gloom ended play early, leaving Head poised to eclipse Root’s effort and tilt Day 3 decisively.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Only batter to score more than 400 runs in BGT 2025 – Travis Head.
Only batter to score more than 500 runs in Ashes 2026 – Travis Head.
THE MOST IMPACTFUL BATTER IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET IN THIS DECADE. 🦁 pic.twitter.com/dqzCiBqMfX
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2026
Travis Head scored more than 400 runs as a middle order batter in the BGT.
Travis Head scored more than 500 runs as an opener in the Ashes.
HEAD – ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE BATTER. pic.twitter.com/iEND1td7n1
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 5, 2026
Half a decade has passed and there is no doubt that Travis Head is the best cricketer of this decade. pic.twitter.com/XCqFeEGNry
— Vivek (@Hailkohli18) January 5, 2026
Travis Head might be the only player whom nobody can decode—how he does what he does. pic.twitter.com/ldXA1ufslz
— 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 (@bholination) January 5, 2026
Travis Head in The ashes series 2025-26.
21(35), 123(83), 33(43), 22(22), 10(28), 170(219), 12(22), 46(67), 91*(87) Today. pic.twitter.com/6yl2HerIyt
— The sports (@the_sports_x) January 5, 2026
Travis Head was the highest run scorer in the 2024-2025 BGT series & now he’s again the highest run scorer of 2025-2026 Ashes.
Travis Head’s prime in international cricket is not discussed as much as it should be, but he is silently dominating every series. pic.twitter.com/1z97EVzNiI
— Sohel. (@SohelVkf) January 5, 2026
Only batter to score more than 400 runs in BGT 2025 – Travis Head.
Only batter to score more than 500 runs in Ashes 2026 – Travis Head.
THE MOST IMPACTFUL BATTER IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET IN THIS DECADE. 🦁 uff off pic.twitter.com/kIRp4tmVrM
— Tripurari Chaudhary (@TripurariMedia) January 5, 2026
Travis Head scored more than 400 runs as a middle order batter in the BGT.
Travis Head scored more than 500 runs as an opener in the Ashes.
HEAD – ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE BATTER. pic.twitter.com/cm2OjGql7W
— jatin shrivastava (@jatinshriv2913) January 5, 2026
Travis Head ends the day on 91* as Australia fight back strongly after Joe Root’s 160 pic.twitter.com/MV0uBNIf6L
— Root Jaiswal (@JaiswalRoot) January 5, 2026
Day 2, Stumps
Australia: 166/2, trail by 218 runs ⚡
– Travis Head is on 91 not out#Ashes2025 #Australia pic.twitter.com/XsbNqYKFo1
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 5, 2026
TRAVIS HEAD MAKES ASHES HISTORY! 🔥2nd Aussie opener with 500+ runs in a 21st Century Ashes series, after David Warner did that in 2013/14. pic.twitter.com/lXTL9awleZ
— The sports (@the_sports_x) January 5, 2026
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