Dawid Malan says England's Ashes series was summed up by losing two late wickets in Sydney

Dawid Malan believes that day one of the Sydney Test encapsulated England's Ashes tour as a whole.

The tourists looked to be in a strong position with a little over 10 minutes left in the day only for Australia to strike twice with the second new ball, removing Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow to leave England precariously placed on 233-5 at the close.

Malan could only watch from the non-striker's end as the wickets went down and will begin day two on 55 as England attempt to post a competitive first-innings total.

"I think it sums up where we've been on this tour," he said. "We've been on top for so long in games, we make one or two mistakes and suddenly we let the Aussies back in so it is disappointing.

"I thought Rooty played fantastically well to get into that position, he's obviously disappointed to get out and to be five down now after all the hard work we put in today is not ideal."

Root made a fine 83 before he was caught at square leg off Mitchell Starc but his failure to convert his fourth fifty of the series into a century continued a frustrating trend for the England captain, who has converted only two of his last 15 fifties into three figures.

"Joe is disappointed when he gets out whether he scores 150 or 50 so he doesn't really change," Malan said.

"It doesn't matter who you are, you wanting to be scoring hundreds and with the number of fifties Joe does score, in his own mind he'll probably be disappointed that he doesn't convert more but he's still contributing towards the team and putting the team in really good positions.

"Obviously, it would be ideal from his own personal point of view if he did convert and I'm sure that will come over the years."

As Root walked off with less than two overs left in the day, the expectation from most inside the Sydney Cricket Ground was that a night-watchman would replace him.

However, Bairstow chose to come out to bat but lasted just seven balls before Josh Hazlewood had him caught behind and Malan admitted he was surprised to see the wicketkeeper-batsman come out to join him in the middle so late in the day.

"I was a little bit but the decision is not for the coaches to make, it is down to the batsman who is in next and Jonny made that decision and good on him," he added.

"It takes a lot of guts to go against what people normally do and with the new ball, he probably felt he was better suited for that.

"I'll have a night-watchman every time there is an opportunity given to me! Each to their own - you can't really look back. He backed himself and he got out - it's very simple."

Australia all-rounder Mitch Marsh was also taken aback to see Bairstow striding to the crease but, with the home side now having seen the back of him, it was a decision he was happy with.

"I was very surprised, yeah," he told reporters. "In the end, I'm pleased but if he bats out the last over then he's not out and gets going… I've played three games this series and I think Nathan Lyon has padded up six times for me so I'd have had the nighty."