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

It was then that Root and Malan came together. They navigated England to tea at 122 for 3, and on resumption put together 134 runs for the fourth wicket. 

It was a test of perseverance and patience for Malan in particular -- he took more than nine overs to add to his tally of 16 at tea. 

Root brought up his 36th half-century off 82 balls with an exquisite square-drive off Mitchell Marsh. 

Nathan Lyon then nearly had Malan dismissed, but Steve Smith's failure to latch-on to an outside edge at slip meant Malan could go on to bring up his own fifty, off 146 balls.

Starc, however got rid of his man with a full, swinging delivery on middle and leg that prompted Root to flick straight to Mitchell Marsh, who did well to hold on to the catch with the diving effort at square leg.