Ashes drawn, but not quartered – a fitting end to a British cricketing summer of summers.
A bad start for England
The first test, played out at England’s fortress of Edgbaston, turned out to be a microcosm of what was to follow. England took no time at all to rip through the Australian order. Openers Warner and Bancroft capitulated very early for 2 and 8 runs respectively and it seemed that despite an early calf injury that destroyed the rest of James Anderson’s series, Stuart Broad had brought his A game. Claiming a fiver and going for just 86 runs, Australia were well and truly on the ropes at a pathetic 122 for 8. But then up stepped ex-captain and man seeking absolution from the cricketing world, Steve Smith. With an incredible display of concentration and skill he and a valiant and nuggety performance from Peter Siddle hauled Australia to a respectable total of 284 all-out, finishing on 144 and 44 each. Demolition avoided, it was then England’s turn to face the fearsome Aussie attack. Burns immediately looked the part with an excellent 133 and both Root and Stokes contributed with half-centuries building to a healthy 374 all out.
Australia’s second innings started as their first with Warner and Bancroft crumbling under the pressure of their test returns after ‘sandpaper-gate’ and the ring of boos around the ground. It seemed England were going to start the series with victory. But once again Smith rode out the boos and amassed runs, this time ably assisted by Khawaja, Travis Head, Mathew Wade and an excellent rear guard knock of 47 not out by Pattinson. The Aussies, thanks to an imperious 144 from Smith and 110 by Wade were right back in it with a huge total of 487.
England’s 2nd innings exposed old wounds of the type that pundits have been lamenting for several years. Jason Roy, still high from his World Cup glory, seemed unable to switch off his calypso swatting-at-anything attitude and fell cheaply. And the rest simply followed him lemming-like over the precipice to defeat. Devastating bowling from Nathan Lyon (6 for 49) and Pat Cummins (4 for 32) combined with woeful shot selection from the England batters had them all out for a paltry 146 and 1 – 0 down in the series. It seemed the World Cup hangover had been too difficult to shake off.
Australia grab the draw in a thriller
The second test played at Lord’s was a chance for redemption and the possibility to prove doubters wrong. A heavily rain-disrupted match saw England bat first but this time splutter to a somewhat ineffectual total of 258. Burns once again justifying his selection with 53, while Roy fell for a duck.
Warner’s torrid start continued, out for just 3 runs and once again it seemed that England’s bowling attack could make up for their batting frailty. Broad continued his excellent form and cometh the hour, cometh the bowler, the young debutant Jofra Archer, in to replace Anderson, took to the stage in some style. Blazing pace and ferocious bouncers shook the Aussie line-up to their core. Even the imperious Smith succumbed to the onslaught, taking a mighty blow to his upper neck and retiring hurt, only for him to return to the field later and still manage to eke out a very brave 92. The Baggy Greens once again got themselves in a fighting position finishing just 8 runs shy on 250 all out.
In a bizarre statistical twist, England succeeded in equalling their first innings total with Stokes top scoring on 103 not-out before they retired with 5 wickets down, attempting to give themselves a chance to force a result in this rain curtailed match.
Smith was declared a concussion risk and sat out the second innings, replaced by the first ever test match concussion substitute Marnus Labuschagne. Unfortunately, it was as if Smith has never left as Marnus took to the Ashes like a duck to water scoring a confident and very handy 59. That coupled with a dogged 42 from Head allowed Australia across the line to secure the draw and take the series on at 1- 0 to Headingley and one of the most thrilling test matches in history.
Stokes’ platinum innings squares the series
We reported here (https://www.expatsport.com/news-and-articles/ben-stokes-135-the-greatest-ever-test-innings) on Ben Stokes’ epic, heroic 3rd test innings which led to England’s most unlikely of victories batting alongside the bespectacled but stalwart Leach. However, the test match was no less remarkable for the cricket that preceded that fateful final day’s play.
Australia batted first and England again made inroads. Warner for once put up some resistance for a determined 61 and super-sub Labuschagne top scored on 74. But that didn’t seem enough as everyone else fell cheaply and they were bowled out for just 179.
No Smith, a low target, this was England’s chance to snap up an easy victory and level the series. The omens were good. England were blown away by Hazlewood, Cummins and Pattinson for a desperate 67. Hazelwood claiming a five wicket haul but leaking just 30 runs in the process.
Woeful does not do justice to the England batting performance as man after man simply gave their wicket away. Joe Denly top scored on 12.
The Ashes were seemingly heading on Quantas back to Sydney as Australia rubbed salt into the wound and added another 246 to their total leaving England an impossible record breaking last innings chase of 359.
The rest, as they say, is history… Stokes’ Headingley ‘miracle’ of 135 not out has been hailed across the globe as one of the most incredible innings ever played and England, despite all the odds, were right back in the series at 1 – 1.
Double-century Smith takes all
The fourth Test was played at Old Trafford and day one was a bleak affair as a cold and powerful wind whipped across the wicket and into the huge stands causing all involved to lose cheer. All, that is, except Steve Smith. Back after his concussion lay off and seemingly raring to go, he fidgeted and twitched his way through the early stages of his innings before hitting stride and simply batting England single-handedly out of the game. With excellent half-centuries by Labuschagne, Paine and a rear guard cameo from Starc, Smith just batted and batted and batted finishing up on 211 and with Australia on 497 for 8 declared.
From that point on England were always clutching at straws. Their first innings reply was a valiant but short, 301 all out, with Burns top scoring on 81. But, nearly 200 runs shy of Australia, there was only ever going to be one winner from that position.
Australia knocked off a quick 186, the only highlights of which for England being Warner once more falling for a duck. Inevitably it was Smith who came out on top with 82. The boos now very much in the minority as his grit, determination, character and incredible number of runs led most to simply stand and applaud one of the greatest ever.
But after the heroics of Headingley, England fans still believed. Could they bat it out for a crucial draw and keep the Ashes alive? In a word: “No”. 197 all out and the Ashes were retained by Australia despite there being one match left to play and the series, test ranking points and pride still to play for.
England lose the urn but level the series
While in no way a dead rubber, the fifth and final test played at The Oval had a slight whiff of end of term about it. Australia had achieved what they came to do, take home the tiny urn, and England had failed to capitalise on their World Cup triumph and win back the Ashes. Too much emphasis on white ball cricket everyone agreed, too little red ball preparation. Both bowling attacks far outshining their batting line-ups, Stokes and Smith apart.
England batted first and posted a respectable, if not spectacular total of 294. Butler finally coming good at the back end of the series top scored with 70. England’s undoing this time from the unlikely source of Mitchell Marsh who took an exceptional 5/46.
The sun shone over London and with it brought back the form of Jofra Archer who rediscovered his pace and venom and bowled some excellent line and length to boot. Figures of 6 for 62 reduced Australia’s reply to just 225 with Smith once again topping out on 80.
England went back into bat with the bit between their teeth and something to prove and played a real test match innings. Joe Denly came aching close to his first century with 94, Stokes and Butler both piled on the runs with 67 and 47 respectively and they ended up on 329 all out. That left Australia a massive 398 to win the match and the series.
In the end it was an ask too far for them and when Smith fell for just 23 it seemed like victory was England’s. Matthew Wade had other ideas however and batted brilliantly for 117; sending English nerves jangling as memories of Headingley and the great escape came flooding back. But calm nerves and good bowling prevailed. The final wicket falling to a spectacular Root catch at slip. Broad spearheaded the attack with 4 for 62 and Australia were all out for 263.
The series was level and England’s summer of incredible triumph ended in quiet satisfaction and with the win.
A fair result
Despite the lamentations of commentators as to the lack of test match batting quality on display, the low scoring nature of the series made for a gripping spectacle. And what the batters lacked in application, the bowlers more than made up for in skill and unplayable deliveries. A thrilling summer of English cricket was capped off by honours shared for only the second time in the last 50 years and in the end, that represented a fair result.
With two and a half years until the rematch down under, the ECB will have to put more effort into red ball cricket if they hope for a better result. Smith, man of the series, was brilliant in English conditions, who knows what he could achieve on home soil. He will however, need the rest of his team mates to improve their performances significantly with the bat if he is to be confident of victory. Will Anderson and Broad still be in contention then? How high will Archer’s stock have risen? Can England’s engine room middle order find the levels of concentration and application to match their undoubted natural talents? With a new England coach set to take over from Trevor Bayliss we’re in for an interesting couple of years in the meantime.
One thing is for certain however: Test match cricket is alive and well. Never has a summer of drawn matches offered more entertainment.
