Australia Shatter 134-Year-Old Record With Historic Ashes Batting Feat

Australia produced a once-in-a-century batting performance on Day 3 of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, rewriting a 134-year-old record in Test cricket history. The hosts’ dominant display put them firmly on course for a 4–1 series victory and underlined the depth and consistency of their batting lineup in the longest format.

Dominant Day Puts Australia in Control

After dismissing England for 384 despite a magnificent 160 from Joe Root, Australia piled on the runs with authority. At stumps on Day 3, the hosts were 529 for 7, holding a commanding first-innings lead of 134 runs. The innings was anchored by Steve Smith, who remained unbeaten on 129, registering the 37th Test century of his career.

Travis Head’s Blitz Sets the Tone

Earlier in the day, Travis Head set the platform with a blistering 163, dismantling the English bowling attack with sustained aggression. His innings ensured Australia maintained momentum through the middle sessions, preventing England from regaining control after their first-innings effort. Head’s knock was the cornerstone of an innings built on partnerships rather than individual brilliance alone.

Seven Fifty-Plus Partnerships Create History

What made Australia’s innings truly historic was the consistency across the batting order. The hosts stitched together seven partnerships of 50 or more runs in a single innings—an achievement never before recorded in the Ashes and seen only once in the 134-year history of Test cricket. The only other instance came in 2007, when India achieved the feat at The Oval under Rahul Dravid. Australia fell just short of perfection, with the sole sub-50 stand being the 27-run partnership between Alex Carey and Smith.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between Australia and England.
• Seven 50+ partnerships in one Test innings is a rare feat in cricket history.
• The previous Ashes record was six such partnerships, set in 1892.
• Test cricket began in 1877.

Ashes Record Book Rewritten at the SCG

In Ashes history, no team had previously managed seven half-century stands in a single innings. England’s six partnerships at Adelaide in 1892 had stood as the benchmark for 134 years. Australia’s performance at the SCG not only eclipsed that mark but also highlighted the sustained pressure their batting can exert over long periods, placing the hosts in a position to close out the series emphatically.