England spark Australia collapse to end Ashes all square

31 July 2023 11:04 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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England beat Australia by 49 runs to win the fifth Test at The Oval on Monday and end the Ashes series all square at 2-2 after the tourists suffered a dramatic collapse.

Australia, chasing a mammoth 384 to win, collapsed from 264-3 to 334 all out, with England's retiring paceman Stuart Broad taking the final wicket.

England did the bulk of the damage when, after a rain break of more than two hours, they took four Australia wickets for 11 runs in 19 balls.

Off-spinner Moeen Ali (3-76) and all-rounder Chris Woakes (4-50) led the way before Broad, England's all-time leading Ashes bowler polished off the tail.

“It was absolutely wonderful,” Broad told Sky Sports. “I thought Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali set the tone absolutely unbelievably.

“Woakesy picked up a couple of wickets, particularly Steve Smith, who has just been a wonderful player to play against all these years.

“Once we got a couple we really started to believe. The crowd were unbelievable. It was so loud and we just jumped on the back of that. To contribute to the team with two wickets is very special.

“When you make that decision you wonder what your last ball will be so to take a wicket to win an Ashes Test match is pretty cool.” Australia, as the holders, had already retained the Ashes but they remain without an Ashes series win in England since 2001.

When play resumed after the rain delay, the tourists were 238-3, needing 146 more runs for victory.
Steve Smith, dropped at leg gully by England captain Ben Stokes just before the interval, was 40 not out and left-hander Travis Head 31 not out.

- Moeen triggers collapse - The pair had extended their fourth-wicket stand to 95 when off-spinner Moeen, in what could be his last Test appearance, turned a ball out of the rough.

Head, on 43, tried to drive, with Joe Root holding a routine catch at first slip.

Australia then lost their star batsman when Smith fell for 54, edging an excellent full-length delivery from paceman Woakes to Zak Crawley at second slip.

The tourists slipped to 274-6 when Moeen had all-rounder Mitchell Marsh brilliantly caught by diving wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow before Woakes and Crawley combined to dismiss Mitchell Starc for a duck.

Captain Pat Cummins was next to go, caught by Stokes off Moeen for nine.

But with Australia needing 55 to win, Broad, who on Saturday made a shock announcement that he would retire after the match, produced a brilliant delivery to take tailender Todd Murphy's outside edge, with Bairstow holding another fine diving catch to leave Australia on the brink of defeat at 329-9.

Broad then had Carey edging behind only for Crawley to drop a tough low chance at second slip before the 37-year-old ended his career in fairytale fashion by having the wicketkeeper caught behind.

Earlier, all-rounder Woakes, often one of England's unsung heroes, reduced Australia to 141-2 by removing openers David Warner (60) and Usman Khawaja (72) in a stunning burst of two wickets for one run in seven balls.

Express quick Mark Wood then had Marnus Labuschagne caught in the slips for 13 to leave Australia 169-3. (AFP)

Comments - 6

Jude Monday, 31 July 2023 11:39 PM

England not lucky!! Rain prevented from Winnipeg the Ashes!!!

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cricketer Tuesday, 01 August 2023 05:08 AM

The controversial decision by umpires Joel Wilson and Kumar Dharmasena to replace the old ball in the 37th over which hardly swung with a newer ball around 8 overs old as seen on TV which sparked a collapse when Australia lost 4 wickets for 19 runs needs investigating. After being 135 for no loss the previous day chasing 385 runs for victory Australia were bowled out for 334 runs losing the fifth test by 49 runs and drawing the series 2 all. I wonder who replaces the old ball This is a grey area which needs to be investigated by the ICC.

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Replacement ball made it easy for the English to get wickets Tuesday, 01 August 2023 07:44 AM

There is significant information about the effect of the Ball change, for the damaged ball, which the commentator Ricky Pointing lambasted at the time of it happening. The ball change done 16 deliveries before the rain stoppage, had the much newer replacement ball swinging and giving the bowlers a massive edge. The umpires decision to choose the particular ball was great mistake, and Australia would be backwards if they did not lodge official complaint about the umpires involved.

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Sambo Tuesday, 01 August 2023 07:48 AM

We wish you nothing but the best for your service to the sport of cricket.

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cricket fan Tuesday, 01 August 2023 10:03 AM

Everytime the ausies have come close to winning a cricket series in England since 2001 as usual the rain has come to Englands rescue. It happened again in the 5th test when Australia were right on top on 130 for no wickets at lunch on the fourth day it rained and no play was possible in the afternoon session which helped England recover the next day when the umpires changed the ball in the first over of the day with a harder ball with a lot of shine which sparked a collapse when 4 aussie wickets fell for only 19 runs which prompts an investigation by the ICC how did it get there in the first place when the previous ball was already 37 years old. Khawaja had questioned the umpire about it and it seems the umpire had no answer. In this instance a thorough investigation by the ICC is necessary who supplies the replacement ball.

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Unlucky England Tuesday, 01 August 2023 01:35 PM

ENGLAND HAD TWO RIVALS IN THIS ASHES SERIES - AUSTRALIA AND THE RAIN .

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