Root smashes 160 to equal Ponting's tally of tons, less than 2,000 runs away from Tendulkar's record

England's Joe Root stood tall at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scoring 160, his second-highest Ashes score. Root scored his 41st Test century, levelling with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

Root now holds the third place alongside Ponting on the list of batters with most Test centuries. The second place is occupied by South Africa's Jacques Kallis. India's Sachin Tendulkar is on top with 51 Test centuries.

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Root has continued to chase Tendulkar’s record of most runs in Test cricket. He has narrowed down the difference to less than 2,000 runs now. The 35-year-old now has 13,937 runs at an average of 51.23. Tendulkar scored 15,921 runs from 200 Tests at an average of 53.78.

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England lose early wickets but Root anchors

Starting at an overnight score of 72, Root hit a boundary off the first ball of Day 2. Harry Brook left him early. He got out for a 97-ball 84 to Scott Boland. Then, skipper Ben Stokes got out for an 11-ball duck to Mitchell Starc.

Jamie Smith joined Root in the middle and batted in his typical fashion. On the first ball of the 60th over, Root got to three figures from 146 deliveries. This is his second Test century on the tour. Marnus Labuschagne was introduced into the attack and Smith fell to the short ball ploy. He departed for a 76-ball 46 before the new ball was due. At the stroke of lunch, England were 336/6.

Root gets to 150 but England collapse

Will Jacks hit a six off the second ball of the second session bowled by Labuschagne. In the 89th over, Root got to his 150 from 226 balls. This was his 17th 150-plus score in Tests. After the drinks break, Michael Neser got the wicket of Jacks. He scored 27 runs from 62 balls. Cameron Green made Brydon Carse his first victim of the Test. In the 98th over, Root was caught and bowled to Neser. He hit 15 fours in his 160 off 242 deliveries. In the same over, Josh Tongue got bowled for a two-ball duck. England were bowled out for 384 after Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first.