Joe Root levels with Ricky Ponting, scores 41st Test century in the 5th Ashes Test

Key Highlights

• The prolific England star brought up three figures with two off Michael Neser after a composed innings at the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney.
• The 35-year-old, who is second on the all-time run-scoring tally behind only Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, clobbered 11 fours in the 146-ball knock.
• His brilliance helped steer England to 272-5 midway through the morning session on day two, with Root resuming on 72.
• It was his second ton of the series, and first with a red ball, after his majestic unbeaten 138 in the day-night Test at Brisbane snapped a three-figure drought in Australia over three previous Ashes tours.
• Root's latest exploits drew him level with Ponting to be third on the all-time century-making list behind only Tendulkar (51) and South African Jacques Kallis (45).