Match Details
Only 50 overs were possible on Day 1 due to persistent showers. Australia lost the wicket of Marcus Harris early on but it was David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne who shared a 156 runs stand which ensured Australia stamped their authority in the match. The English bowlers came back strongly in the second session bagging four quick wickets as Australia lost 4 wickets for 29 runs.
The final session all but belonged to Travis Head who scored one of the finest Ashes century. He played some delightful shots and took the attack to the English fast-bowlers scoring his century in just 84 deliveries. The only spin option for England, Jack Leach was taken to the cleaners by Warner and Head as Australia piled the agony on the English attack.
Head reached a well deserved 150 on Day 3, giving Australia a huge lead of 278 runs. England needed to bat out of their skin to claw their way back into the game. After fighting it out for 9 overs, Cummins accounted for Burns. Hameed looked solid during his stay in the crease but was dismissed just when he started settling down.
England needed a big partnership and it was provided by skipper Joe Root and Dawid Malan. Both applied themselves brilliantly and played some delightful shots all through the final two sessions on Day 3. They batted brilliantly and their unbeaten partnership of 159 runs ensured England was well and truly back in the game.
Having started the 4th day’s play just 58 runs behind Australia, England would have hoped to wipe of the Australian lead without losing too many wickets. However, the Australian bowlers had other ideas and accounted for the last 8 wickets for just 77 runs.
England began the day’s play on 220/2. They hoped to see of the first hour of the day’s play without any loss of wickets but that wasn’t to be. While it was all about grit and determination from the duo on Day 3, they couldn’t quite apply themselves on Day 4 morning playing at deliveries which they shouldn’t have.
All of a sudden, Malan started stepping down the track to Nathan Lyon and one had his name written on it after surviving a few close shaves. Cameron Green bowled a magnificent spell and bagged the prized wicket of Joe Root with an away swinger at length outside the off-stump. In hindsight, he could have left that alone.
Ollie Pope went early as well as Lyon bagged his 401st Test wicket. It turned and bounced steeply from a length and got the glove of Pope straight to Steve Smith at slip. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler shared a breezy 32 runs stand which included some aggressive shots. Buttler played some exquisite reverse sweeps, while Stokes also looked in good knick. However, their partnership was short-lived as Pat Cummins accounted for Stokes with a brilliant delivery. The ball didn’t bounce as much as Stokes would have expected and got an outside edge which carried through to the gully fielder.
Buttler followed his partner soon and there was no way back for England. Chris Woakes looked solid during his knock of 16 and was the last man to be dismissed. The small run-chase of 20 was never going to bother the Aussies. David Warner didn’t come out to open the innings after receiving a blow on the rib in the first innings. Instead, it was Alex Carey who started proceedings with Marcus Harris. Ollie Robinson dismissed him with a brilliant away swinger with England just 4 runs away from the target. Eventually, it was Labuschagne and Harris who took Australia over the line with 9 wickets in hand.