Overview
- Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat, with Joe Root on 31 not out and Harry Brook 23 not out in a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket at the break.
- Ben Duckett made 27 before edging Mitchell Starc for the left-armer’s 27th wicket of the series, Zak Crawley was lbw to Michael Neser for 16, and Jacob Bethell nicked Scott Boland for 10.
- Neither side selected a specialist spinner, with England drafting seamer Matthew Potts and Australia replacing Jhye Richardson with Beau Webster as Todd Murphy was named 12th man.
- The sold-out SCG opened under heightened security with an on-field tribute to victims and first responders of the Bondi Beach attack.
- Australia lead the series 3-1 with the urn retained, World Test Championship points are on the line, Mitchell Starc is closing on Rangana Herath’s left-arm Test wickets record, and Usman Khawaja is playing his 88th and final Test.