Joe Root helps guide home side to a steady position.
Another impressive innings from Joe Root has pushed England to a strong position at lunch on day three of the fifth and final Ashes Test of the summer.
Root finished on 52 not out at the interval with his knock providing the bedrock again at the top of the England order as they finished on 97-1 in response to Australia’s first innings of 492-9 declared.
However, in another worrying sign for England skipper Alastair Cook he was unable to turn a start into a big score despite the game being a dead-rubber.
Cook was the victim of a good ball from Ryan Harris, with a edge through to Australian keeper Brad Haddin seeing the home captain’s stay at the crease cut short on just 25.
Cook and Root did manage to put on 68 for the fall of the first wicket to help take some of the shine off the new ball.
Root will be out to solidify his partnership with Jonathan Trott, who has been having a lean series by his normally very high standards.
The pitch continues to play well, and if England can play as well as Australia did during their first turn on it, then the last Test of the series could be headed for a draw.
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