Overview:
Ben Stokes has been impacted by injuries in the last few years. He plays only Test cricket to manage his workload.
SYDNEY (AP) — England picked up the last three wickets for 49 runs after the Australians resumed at 518-7, but an injury to Ben Stokes overshadowed the morning session. He bowled 10 deliveries before leaving the field, leaving question marks over his participation in the remainder of the SCG test. The England team management stated that Stokes was being assessed for a right adductor strain.
Australia’s innings
Australia’s commanding innings was built on centuries from stand-in opener Travis Head, his third of the series, and Steve Smith (138) and a late contribution from allrounder Beau Webster, who remained unbeaten on 71.
The Australians will be pushing for victory to complete a 4-1 series win after retaining the Ashes in 11 days of action with wins in the first three tests. England is determined to narrow the margin after its drought-breaking win in the fourth test at Melbourne.
Smith was 129 overnight but didn’t settle into a rhythm before he was caught behind off Josh Tongue’s bowling, ending a 107-run eighth-wicket partnership with Webster.
The last two wickets fell within six deliveries, with Starc (5) bowled by a full delivery from Tongue that moved late off the seam and off-spinner Will Jacks (1-34) having Scott Boland caught for a first-ball duck at first slip.
Tongue finished with figures of 3-97 from 20 overs.
The century was Smith’s 13th in Ashes tests, the 37th of his career and his fifth at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With it, he moved up to sixth on the all-time list of most test centuries.