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Joe Root scored a landmark 41st century to take England's first-innings tally of 384, but Australia ended Day 2 on top courtesy of Travis Head's unbeaten 91 in the series final at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. Head's blazing knock took Australia to 166 for two in response to England's score on the second day of the fifth and final Ashes test.
England have already lost the series and the chance of retaining the urn after defeats in the first three tests of the series, but like in their victory in Melbourne last week, they have shown spirit and fight in Sydney.
Root looked in full control on the SCG pitch that, in stark contrast to the Melbourne track, provided little assistance to the bowlers.
Root made merry of the conditions and constructed an innings of real quality from 242 deliveries with 15 fours.
He reached the three-figure mark by punching two runs back past the bowler and erupted in wild celebrations after reaching his 41st test century, which put him level with Australia legend Ricky Ponting.
This was Root's second ton in Australia after his hundred in the second match in Brisbane.
"Looking at the surface and how it could potentially play out here, maximising that first-innings score was always going to be important," Root told reporters.
"To contribute heavily to that is obviously what it's about as a batter, that's your job. There's so much to play for throughout the next three days and we find ourselves very much in the game."
Michael Neser (4/60), the pick of Australia's bowlers, dismissed Root with an athletic catch off his own bowling and two deliveries later castled Josh Tongue to end England's innings.
However, England's bowlers failed to back up the team's highest tally of the series in a marathon final session.
Weatherald, after getting two early lifelines, was dismissed for 21 by Ben Stokes, who also removed Marnus Labuschagne for 48 with stumps in sight.
Though Head, one of only three players to score a century in, blazed his way to an unbeaten 91 off 87 balls.
He reached the 50-run mark for the third time in the series with a typically aggressive stroke through the covers. He will resume Day 3 alongside nightwatchman Neser, who was unbeaten on one.
