SYDNEY — Joe Root and Harry Brook formed a crucial 154-run partnership to lead England to a score of 211-3 on Day 1 of the final Ashes test. The match was halted due to poor light, marking a significant moment in the series. This day also featured a heartfelt on-field tribute for the victims of the Bondi terror attack and the first responders who helped during the incident.

Root and Brook came together when England was at a challenging 57-3 on Sunday. They managed to rally the team through the middle session before bad light and rain forced an early end to play just before tea. The match could not resume after the interval.

At the end of the day, Root remained unbeaten on 72, while Brook was 78 not out. Their partnership was England’s best of the five-test series. Despite this, Australia has already secured the Ashes with wins in the first three tests.

The duo reached their half-centuries within the same over as their stand crossed the triple-century mark. England took control on a pitch that did not seem to offer much help to Australia’s bowlers. Root scored his 67th test fifty off 65 balls, hitting seven boundaries. Brook, on the other hand, completed his 15th half-century from 63 balls in a more erratic fashion, with some powerful shots narrowly avoiding the fielders and frustrating the hosts.

“I’ve just got to be a little bit more patient and take my ones here and there,” Brook said. “It’s just about staying in my own bubble really and not getting too far ahead.”

Triple strike

England faced a tough start in the morning session after losing three wickets in quick succession. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley had given the tourists a strong start after England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat.

Mitchell Starc ended their partnership at 35 when he lured an edge from Duckett (27) through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for his 27th wicket of the series. Australia then took two wickets in eight balls with Michael Neser dismissing Crawley (16) lbw and Scott Boland sending Jacob Bethell (10) on his way with a trademark ball that nipped off the seam and caught the edge through to Carey.

Heavy security and emotions

In an unusual occurrence at a sporting event in Australia, police with long-arm rifles, mounted police, and riot squad officers were on patrol as part of heightened security measures at the sold-out match. This followed an antisemitic terror attack that killed 15 people at nearby Bondi Beach three weeks ago.

Before play began, victims of the shootings, first responders, and community members were honored with an on-field tribute, including a guard of honor and a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. In emotional scenes, the largest roar of the morning was for Ahmed al Ahmed, the shop owner who helped stop the rampage of one of the two shooters. He joined other community members and emergency services on the field.

After the standing ovation, Ahmed, along with the others, was each greeted by the Australian team. Usman Khawaja embraced Ahmed, who was wearing a sling to protect the shoulder where he was shot during the attack. Khawaja is playing his 88th and final test for Australia after announcing his retirement on Friday.

No place for spin

Australia made one change, recalling allrounder Beau Webster for Jhye Richardson. Webster’s inclusion meant there was no space for spinner Todd Murphy, the first time Australia has not fielded a specialist spinner at the SCG since 1888.

England brought in speedster Matthew Potts after Gus Atkinson was injured during the fourth test. England lost each of the first three tests, allowing Australia to retain the Ashes in just 11 days of on-field action. England then won its first Ashes match Down Under since 2011 with a four-wicket win in the Boxing Day test, which led to days of sustained criticism about the overly grassed pitch.