The highly anticipated and closely contested Ashes series ended in a 2-2 draw with Australia having retained the Ashes. Resuming on 135 without loss on the fifth morning and needing a further 249 to win the final Test and the series 3-1, Australia were dismissed for 334 leaving England winners by 49 runs and levelling the series.
While at the start of the fifth day’s play three results, a win for either side or a draw were, possible, by the end of the first hour’s play, England had put themselves in a better position to force a win. During that period, in fine bowling conditions of heavy cloud cover, they had removed the top three in the batting order.
Chris Woakes, who had three for 61 in the first innings, produced another fine spell of pace bowling. In his second over – the fourth of the morning – he had David Warner held behind with the batsman having added just two runs to his overnight score of 58. The ball was not far short of a length but bounced a bit and took the outside edge.
A run later, Australia were two down for 141 when Woakes, in his next over, trapped Usman Khawaja in front of the stumps after an addition of three runs to his overnight score of 69. Considering he is a batsman who can occupy the crease for long periods, it was an important wicket, under the circumstance, that England claimed.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne could only advance the total by 29 runs when Mark Wood having been brought into the attack struck with the wicket of Labuschagne for 13 as he edged to second slip. The three wickets had fallen in a space of 29 runs in seven overs.
Smith and Head settled in well for a while. A lovely drive for four to mid-off from Smith off Wood took him to 32 but on 39 he was fortunate to be dropped by Stokes at backward short leg off Moeen Ali. Stokes had taken a right-handed catch above his head but bringing his arm down he hit his knee and the ball fell out. As he did not have control of the ball in completing the catch Smith was given not out, as confirmed by the third umpire on review.
Lunch followed at the end of that over 66th over on 238 for three with Smith on 40 and Travis Head on 31. Thereafter, with a steady downpour, no play was possible for the next two-and-a-half-hours and a strong possibility loomed of a drawn Test. However, the picture changed rapidly, and not surprisingly, bearing in mind the uncertainties of cricket and of England’s weather.
At 4.20pm local time play resumed under a clear sky and in bright sunshine with England gradually taking control. It began in the eighth over when Travis Head, on 43, was beaten by a prodigious off break from Moeen and he edged his drive to second slip for Zak Crawley to take the second of his four slip catches in the innings.
Along with Smith he had added 95 for the fourth wicket raising Australia’s hopes of forcing a win. But ten runs later, on 274 the fifth wicket fell. Smith, having brought up his 38th Test half century in a little under two-and-a-half-hours from 94 balls, played defensively at a ball from Woakes that seamed away from him taking the outside edge for Crawley to take the catch.
On the same total, Moeen struck again with Mitch Marsh held behind superbly by Jonny Bairstow as he dived to hold a deflected edge off Marsh’s pad. Woakes and Moeen then removed Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummings respectively leaving Broad to claim the last two wickets as he ended his Test career having announced his retirement the previous day.
SCOREBOARD
England 1st Innings 283
Australia 1st Innings 295
England 2nd Innings 395
Australia 2nd Innings (target 384)
D Warner c Bairstow b Woakes 60
U Khawaja lbw Woakes 72
M Labuschagne c Crawley b Wood 13
S Smith c Crawley b Woakes 54
T Head c Root b Ali 43
M Marsh c Bairstow b Ali 6
A Carey c Bairstow b Broad 28
M Starc c Crawley b Woakes 0
P Cummins c Stokes b Ali 9
T Murphy c Bairstow b Broad 18
J Hazlewood not out 4
Extras (b10, lb10, nb2, w5) 27
Total (all out, 94.4 overs, 425 mins) 334
Fall of wickets: 1-140, 2-141, 3-169, 4-264, 5-274, 6-274, 7-275, 8-294, 9-329, 10-334
Bowling: Broad 20.4-4-62-2, Anderson 14-4-53-0, Woakes 19-4-50-4, Ali 23-2-76-3, Root 9-0-39-0, Wood 9-0-34-1
Result: England won by 49 runs
Series: Five-match series ends level at 2-2
Player of the match: Chris Woakes (ENG)
Overall player of the series: Chris Woakes
England player of the series: Chris Woakes
Australia player of the series: Mitchell Starc
Previous Results
June 16-20: First Test, Edgbaston: Australia won by two wickets
June 28-July 2: Second Test, Lord's: Australia won by 43 runs
July 6-9: Third Test, Headingley: England won by three wickets
July 19-23: Fourth Test, Old Trafford: Match drawn
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