ROOT SHOWS ASHES FLOPS HOW IT'S TON

Classy knock from talisman keeps tourists alive in Sydney

- BY RORY DOLLARD in Sydney

JOE ROOT insisted his England teammates had no room for regrets after his Sydney century kept the tourists alive in the final Ashes Test.

Root was at his virtuoso best as he rapped out 160 at a sold-out SCG, his second ton on Australian soil in the last month following a 12-year wait.

It was a classical knock that saw him control conditions, subdue the home attack and lift his side to 384 all out - their highest total Down Under since 2017. But Australia made heavy inroads as they responded, punishing their rivals for failing to make an even bigger score.

Harry Brook had 84 when he edged a lazy stroke, while Jamie Smith (above) had fans shaking their heads in disbelief when he slapped a half-tracker from part-timer Marnus Labuschagne straight to cover.

Root outlasted both in a six-and-a-half-hour siege but backed his partners' attacking instincts.