Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow fall late on opening day

Root, Bairstow fall late on opening day
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Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow are late casualties for England on the opening day of the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

England skipper Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were late scalps for Australia on the opening day of the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

A rain-delayed start saw the tourists win the toss and elect to bat first - former skipper Alastair Cook failing to repeat his heroics of the fourth Test with a contribution of 39 of 104.

The wickets of Mark Stoneman (24), James Vince (25) and Cook left England on 95-3, but Root came on to share a profitable fourth-wicket stand of 133 with Dawid Malan (55*) as the close drew near.

The captain was edging towards his first century of the series in the penultimate over of the day when he clipped at square leg from Mitchell Starc's new ball, Mitchell Marsh waiting on the right to send him packing for 83.

In his stead, Root opted to send on Jonny Bairstow rather than a nightwatchman - a decision that brought almost instant regret as just seven balls in, the Yorkshireman edged behind to Tim Paine to find himself out for just five.

With Bairstow's dismissal, play was brought to an end to leave England on a total of 233-5.

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