England batter Joe Root continues to defy the Australian bowlers on Day 2 of the final Ashes test in Sydney

The 35-year-old is approaching 150 in the middle session...as England build a substantial first innings...currently 367 for six.

Root's SCG century is the 41st of his career, drawing him level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting as the third-most prolific centurion in Test history.

Only South African great Jacques Kallis and Test cricket's "little master" Sachin Tendulkar have managed more.

Root's 24 test centuries since the Covid-19 shutdown is twice as many as the next-most prolific batter, New Zealand's Kane Williamson, with 12.

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