Defiant Root frustrates Australia in final Ashes test
SYDNEY (AP) - England captain Joe Root made an unbeaten half century after being released from hospital and allowed to resume batting Monday as the embattled tourists tried to salvage a draw in the fifth and final Ashes test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Root combined with Jonny Bairstow to guide England to 144 for five in its second inning at lunch on day five, needing a further 159 runs to make Australia bat again, or survive two more sessions to avoid defeat.
Root was 58 not out at lunch with Bairstow on 38, after Moeen Ali was the only wicket to fall in the morning session.
In this Jan 7, 2018, photo England's Joe Root drinks during a break in play against Australia during the fourth day of their Ashes cricket test match in Sydney. England Root may be unable to resume his innings Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, on the final day of the last Ashes Test after being hospitalized with severe dehydration. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Ali joined Bairstow at the crease at the start of the day while Root was still recovering after being admitted to hospital on Monday morning with a stomach bug, suffering from vomiting and diarrhea.
Root, who was 42 not out at stumps on day four, arrived at the stadium on Monday, but still with a hospital identification band on his left wrist, so stayed in the dressing room as Ali went out to bat with Bairstow with England resuming on 93-4
Ali, who has had a mostly torrid series with bat and ball, survived for 43 balls before being trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon (3-50) for Australia's only breakthrough before lunch.
It was the seventh time in nine innings that Ali has been dismissed by the Australian spinner, prompting speculation whether he will retain his place in the team for England's upcoming tour of New Zealand.
Root received a standing ovation from the sparse crowd as he made his way to the middle, and despite feeling unwell, he appeared composed at the crease and quickly raised his fifth half-century of the series came with a flick to fine leg off Lyon for three.
Australia's path to a likely victory was laid on a dominant day four when it set up a 303-run first-innings lead on the back of centuries from Shaun Marsh and his brother Mitchell Marsh. The home team declared at 649-7 then tore through England's top order to start the final day needing six more wickets to complete a 4-0 series win.
Australia regained the Ashes by winning the first three tests while the fourth match ended in a draw last week in Melbourne.
England's Moeen Ali crouches as a ball stays low on a delivery from Australia during the last day of their Ashes cricket test match in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
England's Joe Root, center, has a drink along with England's Jonny Bairstow, left, in break during the last day of their Ashes cricket test match against Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
England's Joe Root avoids a bouncer from Australia's Pat Cummins during the fourth day of their Ashes cricket test match in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
England's not batsmen Jonny Bairstow, right, and Joe Root walk off at stumps of the fourth day of their Ashes cricket test match against Australia in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
