Ashes 2017/18: 5th Test, Day 5 - 5 things we learnt from the day
Joe Root's absence and a Man of the Match performance from Pat Cummins helped Australia seal the Ashes 4-0 with an innings victory at the SCG. Once Root was struck down by dehydration, the result was all but a given and Pat Cummins swept off any doubts when he had Johnny Bairstow and Stuart Broad in the same over.
The rest were formalities which were soon completed and Australia raced to a comfortable win. Joe Root never came out to bat after the fall of the ninth wicket and couldn't quite do a Graeme Smith although he did make two appearances for the wicket prior to that.
#5 Joe Root is dehydrated
Joe Root had remained unbeaten overnight alongside Johnny Bairstow but when England walked out to bat on the fifth day, it was Moeen Ali giving the wicket-keeper batsman company. Root had suffered from dehydration and was in the hospital, arriving just before the start of play on the fifth day.
When Ali was dismissed, the Yorkshire man walked out to a large round of applause in the stadium, one which was eerily reminiscent of Graeme Smith walking out to bat with a broken arm to face Mitchell Johnson. Root and Bairstow withstood everything thrown at them before the post-lunch session saw Tom Curran coming out with Johnny Bairstow because Root was unwell again. The visiting skipper had a dreadful final day of the Test series as his side succumbed to a 4-0 drubbing.