Watch: Brendon McCullum caught playing crossword as rain halts day 1 of fifth Ashes Test

England team head coach Brendon McCullum was unexpectedly at the focal point on Day 1 of the fifth and final test match of the Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Cameras caught him cheekily checking the answers to a crossword puzzle in the dressing room, creating a lighthearted moment in an otherwise tense Test match.

The funny incident happened during the 39th over of England’s innings. After a shaky start that saw England lose three early wickets for 57 runs, Joe Root and Harry Brook were rebuilding the innings at the crease. Off the field, McCullum looked relaxed as he flipped through his crossword booklet before sneaking a look at the answer page.

Commentators were quick to notice the moment on live television and could not resist a joke. One quipped that McCullum should be careful about checking answers on national TV. The clip quickly spread on social media, with fans sharing memes and poking fun at the England coach in good spirit.

Rain Interrupts Play as Root and Brook Anchor England’s Innings

Finally, despite the early setbacks, England showed some control with the bat. Root and Brook looked calm and confident, dealing effortlessly with the Australian bowlers. At Tea, England managed to get 211/3, the pair stitching an undefeated 154-run partnership that gave the visitors much-needed stability.

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Just as England started to build momentum, the weather intervened. Poor light forced the umpires to monitor conditions late in the session, which led to an early Tea break at the ground. Soon after, rain arrived and play was stopped completely.

Although the grounds staff worked hard to get the game going again, conditions did not improve. No further play was possible after Tea, and Day 1 ended early. Even so, England will take confidence from the strong partnership, finding some solid answers on the field in a series where consistency has been hard to come by.