Ashes: Joe Root, Dawid Malan take England to 233/5 on Day 1

Sydney, Jan 4 (CRICKETNMORE) - Skipper Joe Root (83) and Dawid Malan (55 batting) struck a half-century each as England posted 233/5 against Australia on the opening day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood dismissed Root and Jonny Bairstow (5) in successive overs, ruining what had otherwise been a moderately good day for the visitors.

Bairstow was dismissed off the final ball of an extended day after rain had washed out the morning session. Just eight balls earlier, England were sitting pretty at 228 for three, with Root and Dawid Malan adding 106 runs after tea.

After England opted to bat, they saw their 28-run opening stand broken after Cummins had Mark Stoneman (24) caught behind off a short delivery that seamed away from the left-hander. 

James Vince (25) joined opener Alastair Cook (39) thereafter, and the duo added 60 runs in just under 20 overs before Cummins returned to make another breakthrough -- the former slashed unnecessarily at a wide delivery outside his off stump, and was caught behind.

Cook looked to have played himself in and had reached 39 after soaking up 108 deliveries, but four overs after Vince's dismissal, Hazlewood had Cook rapped on the knee-roll. Joel Wilson, the umpire, turned down Australia's appeals, but the home side were successful with their review and England were reduced to 95 for three.