The commentator's curse persists. On the second day of the Sydney Ashes Test, when Harry Brook was in the 80s, Adam Gilchrist, on commentary, talked about how getting a hundred would ease some pressure off Brook,

England has won the toss and chosen to bat first against Australia in the final Ashes test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Harry Brook praised Brendon McCullum's coaching influence as key to his prolific Test form, starring again in the Ashes with an unbeaten knock at the SCG despite England trailing the series.

Brendon McCullum was caught on camera with his head buried in a crossword puzzle while it rained at the SCG, and solving those clues must have seemed easier than the problems with England’s batting.

That his precocious talent has only blossomed in this fifth Test is one of the biggest disappointments of this Ashes tour

England batsman Harry Brook struck his highest score of the Ashes series on Sunday, ending the first day of the fifth test on 78 not out after showing the kind of patience and discipline that he has too often lacked on a disappointing tour.

The England batter came in with his team 8-3 on a seaming wicket and decided attack was his best form of defence. It worked — for a while

Harry Brook falls short of his first century in Australia, as he adds just six runs to his overnight score before being caught for 84 by Steve Smith to end a 169-run partnership between Brook and Joe Root,

With James Anderson and Stuart Broad, then Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes and finally Mark Wood, gone, there has not been a natural leader to the bowling attack. Jofra Archer led the charge for a moment, then Gus Atkinson. Now the series ends with Brydon Carse, an unlikely spearhead, taking the new ball.