The Australian city has been the setting for the end of many a cricketing career and the fifth Test is likely to continue that trend as Alastair Cook's side is rejuvenated
With its grand central harbour and flocks of strolling pleasure-seekers Sydney tends to have the air of a city of departures and farewells. Not least for England's cricketers in Australia, where this most breezily European of state capitals has always been a kind of journey's end, venue for the final Test on all but two Ashes tours in the last 50 years.
[size=13px]England have won the toss and will bowl. Cook says "there's quite a lot of green grass and with the overheads, too. Don't think the pitch will change much." He confirms the three debuts and says he expects Root to "play a lot for England in the future".[/size] [/size][size=13px]Michael Clarke confirms the same XI with a smile on his face, the pays credit to the Australian physios who have kept his players fit. Also shows his knowledge of previous captains to name unchanged teams throughout a series.[/size] [/size][size=13px]Australia 1 Chris Rogers, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steve Smith, 6 George Bailey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Nathan Lyon[/size] [/size][size=13px]England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Michael Carberry, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Gary Ballance, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Scott Borthwick, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 James Anderson, 11 Boyd Rankin.[/size]
3.3
Broad to Warner, FOUR, close! Unconvincing this time, he flaps a short-of-a-length delivery, a touch more bounce, and he flies off a top edge just out of reach of a flying Carberry at point
3.2
Broad to Warner, no run, drags the length back a bit, defended to cover
3.2
Broad to Warner, no run, drags the length back a bit, defended to cover
The sun is peeping through which will please Australia
3.1
Broad to Warner, FOUR, crunching drive, wasn't a full half volley but Warner just out his foot towards the line and drove handsomely straight of mid-off
The sun is peeping through which will please Australia