Overview
- Joe Root (72 not out) and Harry Brook (78 not out) shared an unbroken 154-run stand after England slipped to 57-3 on the opening day.
- Only 45 overs were bowled after bad light paused play before tea and rain prevented any resumption.
- Mitchell Starc removed Ben Duckett for his 27th wicket of the series, leaving the left-armer six shy of Rangana Herath’s Test tally for left-armers.
- Australia fielded no specialist spinner at the SCG for the first time since 1888, while England also went without a frontline spinner; Matthew Potts replaced the injured Gus Atkinson and Beau Webster came in for the hosts.
- The day opened with a tribute to Bondi Beach attack victims and first responders, with a visibly heightened security presence at the ground.