Australia retain Ashes as England fightback comes up short on thrilling final day

Josh Hazlewood dismissed Craig Overton lbw to seal victory
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Will Macpherson8 September 2019

For the first time since 2001, Australia will take the Ashes back home. England were unable to bat through a thrilling final day of a fine Fourth Test, and go 2-1 down with a game to play. England can have no complaints.

England did not lose this game on the final day. Failing to bat out the final day for a draw, which they have not done since 2013, is nothing new. Losing Rory Burns and Joe Root to some terrific bowling on the fourth evening gave them next to no chance.

They actually made a better fist than many expected – or they did at Edgbaston in the First Test where they folded for 146 in just over 50 overs. Joe Denly and Jos Buttler soaked up more than 100 deliveries each, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow made it into the sixties. Craig Overton also got past 100, Jack Leach the fifties. That is plenty of expectation surpassed, but this proved one miracle too many. In the end, they lost by 185 runs with 13.3 overs remaining.

England took it deep enough for the lights to be on, the second new ball to be taken, for the umbrellas to go up in the stands, and for Leach’s glasses cloth to make an appearance. England get themselves in some strange positions, but you cannot accuse them of giving up.

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They lost it on the opening two days when they lost their heads having lost an important toss. The conditions, according to Trevor Bayliss, were as tough as he has ever seen for bowling – flat pitch, strong and blustery winds. But it remains a fascinating time for to lose their heads: a decisive Ashes Test, having been handed a life by Ben Stokes at Headingley. They played like men shackled, rather than those who had been freed.

England have lost the series because they have not been good enough to deal with Australia’s brilliant battery of quicks, and because they have not been good enough to get Steve Smith out. Australia are a team with many holes, but their best have been far too good. Their planning, not clouded by the World Cup, has been meticulous. The result is right, even if James Anderson has been a desperately unfortunate loss.

Whether they can salvage a drawn series at the Oval or not, a period of major introspection awaits for England. How many of the 14 players England have used have a Test future? Should the captain continue? Should the National Selector, who has ruffled feathers and had more misses than hits? All are decisions that should be taken in time, rather than immediately. England do not play a Test cricket until November, and there is plenty of promising talent about.

Without Burns and Root, Stokes was the key man. It was more than an hour before he made it to the crease, as Denly and Roy worked pretty hard. Roy looked as calm as he had all series, but eventually succumbed the way he has three times in three innings: with his stumps scattered. This time Cummins found his way through a yawning gate with another very fine delivery that required greater attention.

Stokes did not last long and, remarkably, left off his own volition. Given the importance of his wicket, that was remarkable. Australia would have reviewed, but at least that would have chewed up some precious pre-lunch moments that Denly and Jonny Bairstow did not have to bat. You never know, there might not have been quite enough evidence to overturn Marais Erasmus’s not out verdict. But Stokes likes fair play: he did not enjoy accepting four overthrows in the World Cup, however vital they proved. This was a walk that will divide opinion: noble to some, silly to others.

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From there, a miracle really was required. Denly reached his second successive second innings half-century, but was flagging after lunch. Nathan Lyon, not at his best and allowing the crowd to get to him, got one to bounce and, via Denly’s glove, it found its way into short leg’s hands.

That brought Bairstow and Buttler together. Their stand of 45 was sprightly, and forced Tim Paine to turn to his less threatening bowlers. But the drinks paused Bairstow’s rhythm and Mitchell Starc, swapping ends, wrapped him high on the pad and up went Marais Erasmus’s finger. The umpire’s call stood on review.

Buttler was unfazed and, with Overton for company, got the Temporary Party Stand interested. Overton survived on review when given out lbw, but they made it to tea, at which point there were 36 overs remaining. Australia returned with vigour, and a brilliant plan fooled Buttler into leaving the ball. Reverse swing from Josh Hazlewood saw him bowled, with shades of Michael Clarke and Simon Jones here in 2005. Next over, Lyon got one to stay low and Archer was lbw.

Once more, with 29 overs left, England looked cooked. Out came Leach, ahead of Stuart Broad, to join Overton. The Somerset pair defended bravely, and wasted time where they could. Leach, the other hero of Headingley. With each passing ball, the crowd’s cheers were louder.

Leach made it to the final hour before Marnus Labuschagne got one to bounce out of the rough, and he was caught any short leg. Overton lasted just a couple of overs more, with Hazlewood’s return seeing him pinned lbw by the ball nipping back. Australia ran amok, and so they should.

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