Matthew Wade century cannot deny England as they win at The Oval and draw The Ashes 2-2
England have won an excellent Test match at The Oval as canny captaincy by Joe Root and contributions from all of the bowlers ensured that a battling rearguard century by Matthew Wade would be a footnote rather than a Stokes-style piece of heroism.
The highlight of the day was the duel between Wade and Jofra Archer, when bouncers flew and words were exchanged, but ultimately four wickets from Jack Leach and two from Root himself broke the Aussie resistance. A really enjoyable Test match completed a superb series.
England were hammered twice, probably denied a Lord's win by the rain, won one of the greatest Tests of all time and beat an Aussie side here who looked like they might have celebrated retaining the Ashes too well.
Tim Paine will reflect that his decision to bowl first here was a howler. His fragile batting unit ultimately were never going to score 399 on Sunday.
Once Smith, for once, failed to pass 50 it was highly likely to be over Sunday night, and so it proved.
Well done to both sides
and it's goodnight from me and Rob B. Cheers!
The Aussies celebrate their, er, draw
Tim Paine
"Huge deal for this group to retain the Ashes in England. Test cricket is a competitive environment, but I think today and the whole series was played in excellent spirit. Matthew Wade cops stick for how much he talks on the pitch but you saw today, as in his whole career, that he walks the walk as well.
"I see this as a beginning, not an end game. I feel there is unfinished business for this team."
Tim Paine on The Oval Test: "Regrets? I've got a couple, starting at the toss... I can't read a pitch so I'm always 50-50."
Elite Honesty. #Ashespic.twitter.com/lzYlpjGtSZ— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 15, 2019
Joe Root
comes to the stage, not much in the way of applause for him.
"I thought we were excellent this week. I feel we drove the game the whole time. A brilliant effort today.
Collectively we have shown a lot of character, we have fought really hard. Jofra makes things happen, and he's backed up by other skilful bowlers."
He agrees with Atherton that England might have found their openers in Denly and Burns.
"Trevor has added a huge amount to this Test team and what he has done for white ball cricket has been incredible. He has a great sense of humour, he will never give you everything. Trevor has done wonderful things, allowing guys like Ben to express themselves."
England vs Australia, Ashes series player ratings: Who wrote their name into history and who lost their way?https://t.co/rX6ttbH8EU
— Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) September 15, 2019
"I want to lead England in Australia and be the man to bring the Ashes back to England."
Steve Smith
is the Australia player of the series and the Compton-Miller medal winner for best overall player. I hear not a single boo, and rightly so.
Smith: "Amazing couple of months here. The series has ebbed and flowed, I have loved every minute. Very proud to have helped Australia bring the urn home.
"Matthew showed today if you had good plans you could take the game on but we couldn't stick around with him."
"Jofra is a raw talent, I knew it once I saw him in the IPL. Not often you get someone that tall bowling that quickly. He has a bright future.
"Nothing is ever too much, you have to think you're going to get better and try to get better."
Ben Stokes
is the England player of the series. "It has been a great series. I think 2-2 is a fair result, two evenly matched teams. We won't look back and think there are things we could have done differently. Headingley? Ah I'm sure I'll look back in the years to come on it, but now I suppose yeah I'd give it back if we could lift the urn. 100% convinced that Joe is the right man to lead us forward."
Jofra Archer
is the player of the match. On bowling to Wade: "I was a bit grumpy, the wicket was a bit flat. It was great cricket."
England win by 135 runs
The Ashes series finishes 2-2.
It's a draw: 2-2. Except that Australia had already 'won' - or retained. That took the edge off them at the Oval, but England still played well to win by 135 runs. The 'summer of cricket' didn't let us down.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) September 15, 2019
A really enjoyable Test match. England were hammered twice, probably denied a Lord's win by the rain, won one of the greatest Tests of all time and beat an Aussie side here who looked like they might have celebrated retaining the Ashes too well.
Edgbaston: Australia won by 251 runs
Lord’s: Draw
Headingley: England won by one wicket
Old Trafford: Australia won by 185 runs
The Oval: England won by 135 runs
Gower and Beefy sign off together with a glass of wine on screen!
Australia all out for 263
Their last three wickets going down in 12 balls, England have won this match to level the series 2-2.
As I explained to a relative, not a cricket fan, a little earlier - if we win, then we’ll draw, but we’ve already lost. The look on her face. Incomprehension, yes, but also pity.
— JayElwes (@JayElwes) September 14, 2019
WICKET! Hazlewood c Root b Leach 0
That's it! A superb catch from Root at midwicket, it has been a dream session for Root, wickets off his bowling and now he has moved himself twice and taken a catch each time! That wraps it up for England. FOW 263/10
in comes josh
...
WICKET! Lyon c Root b Leach 1
Or perhaps surviving the old ball! Root stations himself at square leg, Lyon sweeps the ball, making a decent contact. But he's hit it straight to Root, who takes a smart low grab and England are a wicket away. FOW 263/9
OVER 76: AUS 260/8 (Siddle 11* Lyon 0*) chasing 399
Wade returns to the pav, taking Australia's hopes of a famous win with him, and Nathan Lyon emerges. Solid enough effort from Nathan for the rest of the over. I don't see these guys surviving the imminent new ball.
WICKET! Wade st Bairstow b Root 117
That's it! The skipper has done it, surely. That has to be game ball. Root with another one that grips and turns, Wade has come a mile down the pitch to play at it, but he has missed and Bairstow has time to put the kettle on, light a fag, and then whip the bails off. Stumped by yards, and England can taste the W now. FOW 260/8
OVER 75: AUS 260/7 (Wade 117* Siddle 11*) chasing 399
Leach comes back on and bowls a good over. Two off it.
OVER 74: AUS 258/7 (Wade 116* Siddle 10*) chasing 399
Less drama in this Root over, four runs off it.
OVER 73: AUS 254/7 (Wade 113* Siddle 9*) chasing 399
Broad to Siddle, only one slip, which seems a bit pessimistic... and in fact seems a bit stupid, when Peter Siddle edges the ball fair and square through where second slip would be. Siddle follows that up with a fairdinkum drive through the covers for four runs. Suffering bowlers...
Since Sandpaper-gate, Australia's lower order has been very resilient. Their last four batsmen are dismissed (individually) every 36 balls, the best of any side in the world to play 3+ Tests in that time. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 15, 2019
OVER 72: AUS 246/7 (Wade 113* Siddle 1*) chasing 399
Massive moment as Wade is given out. But he reviews the caught behind...
Root tossed the ball up, it landed and spun in a puff of dust. Wade drove at it, there was a noise and a catch behind the wicket. But Wade reviews it, and rightly so. He hit the ground with his bat.
Wade, as it turns out, thought it was a bump ball, judging from his gesture. No matter.
Podiersiddle is off the mark with a red bull run.
OVER 71: AUS 244/7 (Wade 112*) chasing 399
That came off the last ball of the over. Cummo should be pretty annoyed with himself there. Soft.
WICKET! Cummins c Bairstow b Broad 9
Wade, that century under his belt, is going for some shots. Crunchy pull off Broad for four. A single brings Cummins on strike. I don't know if Cummins has got carried away by watching his partner or what, but he has aimed a big drive at a ball outisde off here that he would have been better off leaving well alone. He feathers it through. FOW 244/7
OVER 70: AUS 239/6 (Wade 107* Cummins 9*) chasing 399
Wade cuts Root for four. Two half chances in this over: first a tricky stumping for Bairstow as the ball grips out of the rough, and now Wade throws the kitchen sink at a delivery. It flies very quick and high to Stokes at slip, he does very well even to react at all, tries to palm it up but it is not to be.
He waded in and he’s wading through. That was quality. And really, really fun. #Ashes ���� pic.twitter.com/Ug2L79f4AT
— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) September 15, 2019
OVER 69: AUS 232/6 (Wade 100* Cummins 9*) chasing 399
Superb shot from Cummins as he mullers the ball through the covers for a handsome four. Off the fourth ball, he manages to get a single and that brings the man Wade onto strike. He works to midwicket for no run. He works off the legs again - and there it is! A single to bring up a really impressive, battling hundred. "He's had plenty to say this series but he has let his bat do the talking today," says Mike Atherton.
OVER 68: AUS 226/6 (Wade 99* Cummins 4*) chasing 399
Root, right arm around the wicket to Cummins. Cummins pads up playing no shot and England have a big appeal. Given not out. I'd give that not out on principle to be honest. It's actually closer than I first though, but pitching outside leg all the same.
OVER 67: AUS 225/6 (Wade 99* Cummins 3*) chasing 399
Wade hits it straight and hard to Leach at mid off... and goes for the run! Dicey! If he runs himself out two short of a century I think Jofra Archer in particular might need a change of trousers. Anyway, Leach's throw does not hit so that's the end of that.
OVER 66: AUS 223/6 (Wade 98* Cummins 2*) chasing 399
Root brings himself on. Why not? It's over 66. He's definitely good for a ripper every couple of overs, and I reckon England only need one wicket now and they'll get the lot, if you know what I mean. Wade takes a single. Cummo fine.
OVER 65: AUS 222/6 (Wade 97* Cummins 2*) chasing 399
The Aussies, or specifically Wade, have seen off Archer. Their reward: a spell from Stuart Broad, who is looking for his 467th Test wicket. Wade gets a single, Cummo does well enough, albeit that one leave is very close to his stumps. It's drinks.
OVER 64: AUS 221/6 (Wade 96* Cummins 2*) chasing 399
Pat Cummins a little bit more assured in that over, but still very much up against it with Leach. Maiden. Exemplary work from Jack, who has bowled seven overs, four maidens, one wicket for five in this spell.
OVER 63: AUS 221/6 (Wade 96* Cummins 2*) chasing 399
Jofra is not done yet! He asks/tells Root to keep him on. First ball does a bit and finds the edge, flies past Burns in the gully. Tries for the knuckle ball but gets a full toss. Another hostile bouncer. Wade drills a nice shot through wide mid off for four. Thrilling Ashes contest, this.
Edge! Four!
Wade into the nineties... #Ashespic.twitter.com/doWl6s9CKe— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 15, 2019
OVER 62: AUS 213/6 (Wade 88* Cummins 2*) chasing 399
Cummins struggling against Leach. A big turner flies off his edge and through the slip/gully area. Pat not looking too hot here.
Archer is going to continue!
OVER 61: AUS 211/6 (Wade 88* Cummins 0*) chasing 399
Fun over! Archer beats Wade with a ball that angles in and seams away. Good luck playing that. Wade, luckily for him, fails to. He ducks a bouncer. he drills a superb shot through the covers for four. Now Archer with another bouncer, Wade half turns and is struck on the bicep. Ouch. Archer comes all the way down the pitch and fixes him with a sneering, spiteful smile. I love it! Go'orn Jofra. Wade, to his credit, dusts it off. Called a no ball. Wade tucks the next one away for four, fine - Stokes cannot field it. Archer ticking! Last ball of the over is another horrible lifter, Wade plays it superbly. Great contest. Fair play to Matthew Wade, who has behaved like a bit of a prat at times this match but has certainly shown some stones against Jofra in this spell. Archer's seventh of the spell, that.
OVER 60: AUS 202/6 (Wade 80* Cummins 0*) chasing 399
Like a different sport at the other end as Pat prods forward gamely against the spin of Leach. Result is the same, though: a maiden over.
OVER 59: AUS 202/6 (Wade 80* Cummins 0*) chasing 399
Another accurate and hostile over form Archer, Wade digs out a splendid yorker. It's a maiden. Wade is playing the short ball well.
OVER 58: AUS 202/6 (Wade 80* Cummins 0*) chasing 399
Single for Wade, Cummins - not the best player of spin - survives three.
OVER 57: AUS 201/6 (Wade 79* Cummins 0*) chasing 399
Rapid and hostile now from Jofra Archer. First ball is a bumper, he ducks under that. Glares at Wade. These two are Big Bash teammates at Hobart Hurricanes but they are at each other here. Wade is beaten outside off. Archer seriously rapid now. Another spicy bouncer. Stokes in an unusual position at basically backstop, just on the offside. Like first slip line but on the fence. This one's 93 mph to Wade, and he tucks it away for a single. Cummins comes on strike and is hit on the shoulder or bicep by a nasty delivery that lifts and follows him. Serious over from Archer, who looks annoyed and up for this.
OVER 56: AUS 200/6 (Wade 78*) chasing 399
England have not bowled especially brilliantly since tea, but that is a huge breakthrough from Jack Leach.
That was last ball of the over. Pat Cummins, on a king pair, comes out.
WICKET! Paine lbw Leach 21
Paine is using a review for an LBW that was given out on field as Jack Leach hit him on the pad. It pitches in line, it hits him on the pads playing no shot, Umpire Kumar D takes a long time and gives it. And rightly so! That is out. Paine has muffed his last DRS in this series. FOW 200/6
OVER 55: AUS 200/5 (Wade 78* Paine 21*) chasing 399
Entertainment! Archer slips a gear and is looking to stick it up Matthew Wade's hooter. Wade lands a blow with a crisp pull for four. He gets the ball over 90mph for a trio of bumpers. Has a word with Wade after the first two and comes down the pitch after the last one for a wordless Paddington Bear glare at the Aussie, who holds his gaze and then laughs. Oooh, I am very much hoping Jofra gets this guy sorted out!
OVER 54: AUS 196/5 (Wade 74* Paine 21*) chasing 399
Leach impressing, yet again. England have found their man here. Tight and accurate over asking questions.
OVER 53: AUS 194/5 (Wade 73* Paine 20*) chasing 399
A second maiden in a row. Wade wafts at Archer and is beaten. Quite fancy one of these badders for a "rush of blood to the head" dismissal.
Stuart Broad today became the first England bowler to take 20+ wickets in four Ashes series (2013, 2013-14, 2015 and 2019).
Botham, Willis, Peel and Richardson took 20+ in three Ashes.
20+-wicket Ashes for Australia: Lillee, McGrath, O'Reilly 4 each; Warne six.#Ashes— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) September 15, 2019
OVER 52: AUS 194/5 (Wade 73* Paine 20*) chasing 399
Root's had enough of local boy Curran for the time being, and selects instead the mighty Leach. Good testing over to Paine, who unwisely cuts and is lucky not to get a bottom edge. Maiden.
OVER 51: AUS 194/5 (Wade 73* Paine 20*) chasing 399
Wade top edges a pull off Archer for six! Jof testing out the centre of the pitch in this over but not too much alarm for the man Wade.
OVER 50: AUS 188/5 (Wade 67* Paine 20*) chasing 399
Curran really full, he's evidently measured Paine up for a swinging yorker but is finding mostly half-volleys. Paine helps himself to four off the toes.
OVER 49: AUS 182/5 (Wade 66* Paine 15*) chasing 399
Jofra Archer.
England have not come out very well after tea. That was a so-so over from Sam, and a poor one from Jofra to follow. A half volley is timed nicely for four by Wade, and then a ball down leg goes for four leg byes. Archer then hits Paine on the pads, it's given not out and England waste a review by asking the question for a ball that pretty clearly, to me at least, pitched outside leg stump.
OVER 48: AUS 172/5 (Wade 61* Paine 14*) chasing 399
Sam Curran in from the Vauxhall End, the left-handed Wade in his sights. Very full, outside off, some can be left, the others played confidently enough by the well-set Matthew Wade. He slots away a single, which brings Paine on strike. Curran serves up a tasty full toss, and Paine makes no mistake as he guides that to the cover fence.
Players are back on
The debate is as to when this might end. Not least among my colleagues on the newspaper who will either be producing about four pages on this day's play or about four hundred on the series up-sum!
TEA: 167/5 (Wade 60* Paine 10*) off 47 overs
The players stride off for tea, Ben Stokes and Matthew Wade talking to each other as they walk off the ground, not too sure what is being said there. I imagine they're having a pop.
OVER 47: AUS 167/5 (Wade 60* Paine 10*) chasing 399
Leach.
Wade certainly not playing for the interval. Skips down the deck and wallops one. Now he gives Leach the charge and heaves to midwicket, Sam Curran runs in and catches it on the bounce. It landed two foot short. The reactions of the fielder, and indeed his captain, tell you that maybe that would have been a catch if he'd scooted in faster. Hard though. Anyway, tea it is.
OVER 46: AUS 160/5 (Wade 54* Paine 9*) chasing 399
Wade throwing the bat against Root. Slices one to point, pierces the infield with another, where Broad does the Lord's work on the boundary with a brilliant dive. Three for that, giving Root a chance for a delivery at Paine, but Paine nails this one hard and true to the fence. Root looking considerably more part-time in that over...
OVER 45: AUS 153/5 (Wade 51* Paine 5*) chasing 399
Jofra Archer comes in, brings the ball back into Paine and raps him flush on the pad as he tries to flick it to the legside, and short leg indeed catches it. England review. Not too sure why! It's nowhere near the bat and it's going both over and wide of leg stump. Nothing going for that review at all. Jofra takes out some frustration with a spicy bouncer. Paine crashes a poor ball away for a settling four.
OVER 44: AUS 149/5 (Wade 51* Paine 1*) chasing 399
Root's got the bit between his teeth now, and absolutely RIPS one away from Wade here!
WICKET! Marsh c Buttler b Root 24
The skipper has done it! An inspired bowling change! Decent, if hardly spectacular, delivery: an off-break which Marsh has obligingly turned slap-bang into the hands of the man under the lid. Jos snaffles the catch. "A nothing sort of a shot. Either just leave it or slap it out of the ground," says Shane Warne. FOW 148/5
Marsh perhaps undone by the change of angle, he was playing the left-armer Leach fine. A soft dismissal.
OVER 43: AUS 147/4 (Wade 50* Marsh 24*) chasing 399
Jof touches 90mph in this over but the radar is not quite there. Baristow earning his corn with some acrobatic takes down the legside, Marsh slashes the last delivery away for four.
OVER 42: AUS 143/4 (Wade 50* Marsh 20*) chasing 399
Wade tickles the first ball away for a single that brings up a battling half-century. Marsh tucks the last away to leg, a touch uppish that.
A rather different proposition from Archer at the other end.
Thank you Baggers
These Aussies fighting hard to take this game into a fifth day. In a bid to ensure that it's lager lager nightclub this very evening, Joe Root brings... himself on to bowl.
OVER 41: AUS 141/4 (Wade 49* Marsh 19*) chasing 399
Wade swats a single with a pull shot through square leg and Marsh shows us his pull, smiting Archer through wide mid-on for four. I need to switch to football. Alan Tyers will take you through the next couple of hours.
OVER 40: AUS 136/4 (Wade 48* Marsh 15*) chasing 399
Maiden from Leach to Marsh. He almost drags one on, the speared in arm ball, but it mercifully strikes his boot. Ricky Ponting suggests Leach is bowling too quickly and should toss a few more up.
OVER 39: AUS 136/4 (Wade 48* Marsh 15*) chasing 399
Wade pulls Archer's bouncer for four, not exactly in control but Leach didn't pick it up at fine leg. He ducks the next short ball that doesn't get up all that high and is hit on the back, right on his number. Bairstow leaps one-hand high to try to catch it but doesn't rendering his appeal pointless on two counts.
OVER 38: AUS 132/4 (Wade 44* Marsh 15*) chasing 399
Wade comes down to Leach again and drives straight for a single after Marsh drives one through mid-on. He comes round the wicket to Marsh now and the batsman pads up twice, the second of them close to the stumps, provoking a vociferous appeal but it pitched outside leg and would turned away from off stump. Time for Archer.
OVER 37: AUS 130/4 (Wade 43* Marsh 14*) chasing 399
Mitchell Marsh has a wild yahoo outside off, loses his bottom-hand grip, and flashes the ball over gully. Burns leaps high, one hand thrust up proud and I think gets his fingertips to it but cannot grab it. Wade pushes to cover, takes on Stokes' throw and gets home. The shy hits the stumps and ricochets to midwicket, allowing them to scamper another. Fine spell from Woakes, he seems to have proper rhythm today. Wade ends the over with a wonderful front-foot stroke, whipping it off off-stump through midwicket for four.
Two of the most prolific series in Test history have come from the bat of Steve Smith, his epics against India and England historically dominant. #Ashespic.twitter.com/vQiK4wARne
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 15, 2019
OVER 36: AUS 123/4 (Wade 37* Marsh 13*) chasing 399
Wade takes on the rough and Leach with a chasse and hoick across the line from a metre down the pitch, spooning it wildly just short of Root's dive at shortish midwicket. They run one. After Marsh milks a single the next ball is a grubber that shoots under Wade's defensive, nutmegs Bairstow and hits the helmet 10m behind the keeper. Five-run penalty.
OVER 35: AUS 116/4 (Wade 36* Marsh 12*) chasing 399
Ricky Ponting points out that Chris Woakes' no ball was the first he's ever been called for in Test cricket. He's bowling well and resumes after drinks with shape and a tight line, squaring Wade up and the ball climbs to hit the shoulder and balloon wide of the cordon. They run a single. Marsh is treated to some rare width in this Woakes spell and swats it through point for four. Woakes responds by getting tighter to the stumps and jagging one on to the right-hander's pad. On the line of the stumps but too high.
OVER 34: AUS 111/4 (Wade 35* Marsh 8*) chasing 399
Marsh is spared the fate of Wayne Phillips by the ball hitting the ground before it touched silly point's toe to be caught by Buttler off Leach. On come the drinks.
Umpire review for a catch
Did the ball rebound off silly point and was caught at short leg without hitting the ground? No - it hit his toe after it kissed the ground.
OVER 33: AUS 111/4 (Wade 35* Marsh 8*) chasing 399
Woakes draws the edge from Wade but the ball drops short of Stokes at second slip then ends the over with a jaffa that swings away late, possibly reverse swing.
OVER 32: AUS 108/4 (Wade 35* Marsh 7*) chasing 399
Some of the fizz following the Smith dismissal has been killed by the no-ball. England's vibe, as the young may once have said, has been temporarily harshed. Wade and Marsh take Leach for singles, the leftie with a paddle sweep, Geoff's lad with a push through point.
OVER 31: AUS 106/4 (Wade 34* Marsh 6*) chasing 399
Superb catch by Burns, mind. England - specifically Woakes - gives Marsh a life.
Scratch that it's a no-ball
Oh dear - caught at gully but erased from the scorebook.
Wicket!!
Marsh c Burns b Woakes 6
OVER 30: AUS 105/4 (Wade 34* Marsh 6*) chasing 399
Wade on the charge, down the track to Leach twice, chipping four over mid-off and four more over wide mid-on. If Leach watches his feet he may get a cue to fire a dart down the legside to stump him. Instead Leach drags one down and the left-hander gets enough on to it without timing it or finding the meat to send it dribbling through third man for four more. Australia need 294 to win.
OVER 29: AUS 92/4 (Wade 22* Marsh 5*) chasing 399
Marsh gets off the mark with a glorious open-faced drive through cover point for four.
Smith 774 at 110.57. No boos as he walked off, and I daresay that speaks volumes #Ashes19
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) September 15, 2019
OVER 28: AUS 85/4 (Wade 21* Marsh 0*) chasing 399
On comes Leach. Bairstow encourages him to hit 'that big Yorkshire pudding' which must be a reference to the big patch of rough outside the left-hander's off-stump rather than Joe Root. After a couple of dot balls, one does hit the mini crater and spits past Wade's bat and through the keeper for a bye. Marsh's heavy front-foot steps make him vulnerable as he lunges forward but he manages to block all three.
The moment England ensured the series will be drawn? #Ashespic.twitter.com/iidlLQXTkS
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 15, 2019
OVER 27: AUS 85/4 (Wade 21* Marsh 0*) chasing 399
Stuart Broad brings the house down. What a series he's had. That's his 22nd wicket.
Broad the Giantkiller
He's gone! His lowest score of the series by 57. They love it when a plan comes together.
Wicket!!
Smith c Stokes b Broad 23 Brilliant! Set him up by pushing him back with swing, playing deep, then angled one on to his hip which he tucked round the corner and Stokes pouched it at leg slip. FOW 85/4
OVER 26: AUS 85/3 (Smith 23* Wade 21*) chasing 399
Some width from Woakes and no compensating swing this time. Wade climbs into it and murders it through cover for four. Woakes oull back his length and Wade drags his cut straight into the pitch. Leach makes a smarts top at extra to cut off a boundary. Should be bowling after that impressive spell from the Pavilion End before lunch, preferably from the Vauxhall End.
Watch Warner’s innings earlier - if he doesn’t learn very quickly to come forward and hit the ball straight back at the stumps and score straight through mid-wicket, it’s a HUGE problem & potentially Test career threatening! #Ashes
— Kevin Pietersen�� (@KP24) September 15, 2019
OVER 25: AUS 81/3 (Smith 23* Wade 17*) chasing 399
Broad swings one in to Smith and strike shim on the top of the back pad. It hit him outside the line and was going over the top but did genuinely beat him through the air. Had Anderson played ... Smith responds with an extraordinary stroke, whipping the ball through midwicket from miles outside off-stump for four. Le freak, c'est chic.
OVER 24: AUS 77/3 (Smith 19* Wade 17*) chasing 399
Smith works Woakes off middle and off through midwicket for a single. Had it stayed low like the one in the first innings ... but it didn't. Wade is beaten outside off from over the wicket by one that Woakes entices to come back at the left-hander.
OVER 23: AUS 76/3 (Smith 18* Wade 17*) chasing 399
Some back and forth between the feisty left-hander and, I think, Jos Buttler. He leaves the first and hits the second at the top of the bounce wide of gully for four. Sweet shot. Clipping three off his pads brings Smith on to strike and Broad goes over the wicket. Inswing sends the ball close to Smith's edge and bouncing just over the stumps.
OVER 22: AUS 68/3 (Smith 18* Wade 10*) chasing 399
Away swing for Woakes to Smith who defends the first two, tries to drive the next but toes it back up the pitch and hammily leaves the next two. Cover cuts off a full-blooded drive and allows Woakes to begin with a maiden. Stuart Broad will have a dart at the left-handed Wade.
Chris Woakes to start the session
The only man to trap Steve Smith leg-before three times has his first go of the innings.
LUNCH: AUS 68/3
Five wickets fell in the morning session at the Oval as England were bowled out for 329 after Stuart Broad swatted two sixes into the legside and set Australia 399 to win the fifth Test and the Ashes 3-1.
Australia put on their highest opening partnership of the summer, making 18 before Marcus Harris's off-stump was sent cartwheeling out of the ground by Broad who then dismissed Warner for 11, the seventh time he has dismissed the opener this series.
Jack Leach removed Marnus Labuschagne with one that dipped deceptively on him and left him stranded off-balance as Jonny Bairstow removed the bails but while there's Steve Smith, there's life, and the great batsman, batting skittishly at times, went in to lunch on 18 and Australia needing 331 more for victory with seven wickets left.
OVER 21: AUS 68/3 (Smith 18* Wade 10*) chasing 399
Leach is ramping up the pressure on Wade, beating him with flight and dip when he comes down, provoking cries of 'bloody hell!' from a fielder, then has him cutting at one that doesn't spin and missing. He hangs his head. wade survives by coming down to kick the ball away twice. Seemingly nonsensical chirpings on the stump mic include 'One up the chimney' and 'Chicken and chips!'. You tell me.
OVER 20: AUS 68/3 (Smith 18* Wade 10*) chasing 399
Curran tries round the wicket to Smith after three dot balls and the great batsman waits for it to arc in and turns it through midwicket for one. Wade, bristling with intent, comes down to tap three through cover. One more over before lunch.
OVER 19: AUS 64/3 (Smith 17* Wade 7*) chasing 399
Leach ties Smith up for four balls with good flight and dip. He is bowling in contact lenses here and draws the inside edge on to the pad that squirts behind short leg. Buttler at forward short leg throws out his hand but it was 50cm finer. Still provokes loud 'oohs' from the crowd. They run a single. Wade comes down to the last and drills two through cover.
OVER 18: AUS 61/3 (Smith 16* Wade 5*) chasing 399
Wade plays and misses at Curran and England immediately are in his ear. He beats him again on the front foot with one that holds its line. I would swear I heard a noise but no one said anything either on the field or commentary box. Maiden.
OVER 17: AUS 61/3 (Smith 16* Wade 5*) chasing 399
Leach and Bairstow combine perfectly. Enter Wade who is greeted by the keeper's reference to him as the supreme 's---stirrer'. He slog sweeps his second ball for four and England raise the volume on their heavily tattooed bogeyman.
Wicket!!
Labuschagne st Bairstow b Leach 14 Lovely bowling from Leach, drawing him down to reach a deceptively, late dipping ball that ripped past his edge as he lost his balance. Bairstow whipped off the bails with the batsman's foot in the air. FOW 56/3
OVER 16: AUS 55/2 (Labuschagne 14* Smith 15*) chasing 399
Smith walks across his stumps and whips a single off Curran fine. That's the only damage off the over and even at his pace - 79mph - because he's moving it, Curran is forcing the batsmen to restrain their instincts.
OVER 15: AUS 53/2 (Labuschagne 13* Smith 14*) chasing 399
Very odd from Smith who is, after all, a very odd batsman. He comes down the pitch and cloths a lofted drive that lands short of long on. Whenever he has made mistakes in this series - and there have been a few - he has not been punished for them. Terrific batsman, the most productive I have seen. But he's also a jammy so and so. He gurns and wracks his body in self-flagellation for almost throwing it away.
Only 6 bowlers have ever got a batsman out 7 times in the same series. Stuart Broad to David Warner is now one of those. Incredible considering that Broad didn't dismiss Warner at all in the previous two series
— Tim (@timwig) September 15, 2019
OVER 14: AUS 51/2 (Labuschagne 12* Smith 13*) chasing 399
Curran is seriously testing Labuschagne's technique and judgment outside off, drawing him into a couple of groping defensive play and misses. Excellent, probing over that Labuschagne decides by the end to play by not playing, banking on it not swinging back in. Maiden.
OVER 13: AUS 51/2 (Labuschagne 12* Smith 13*) chasing 399
As the Battle of Britain flight goes over the ground, a Spitfire and a Hurricane, Ricky Ponting asks David Gower if he's ever had a trip in a light aircraft. Leach comes round the wicket to Smith who decides to leave the first ball that goes on with the arm and whistles past off-stump. Bairstow greets it with undisguised glee. Smith whips a straight one through mid-on for a single, Labuschagne thick edges another down to third man.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith have scored 47% of Australia's runs in this series. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 15, 2019
OVER 12: AUS 49/2 (Labuschagne 11* Smith 12*) chasing 399
Curran seems to be swinging it from the hand, shaping it in for three deliveries. He pushes the next one wider and it holds its line, drawing Labuschagne into a woolly woof outside off-stump. He upbraids himself for laxness and resumes his more considered approach for the rest of the over. Time for Jack Leach.
OVER 11: AUS 49/2 (Labuschagne 11* Smith 12*) chasing 399
Broad is swinging it in to Smith, hooping it into those pads. Smith, cool as a cucumber, whips one arrowing into the base of middle stump after veering in from outside off down to fine leg for four. What a phenomenal talent he is. It's almost sadistic in the way it gives the bowler hope until the last moment.
OVER 10: AUS 44/2 (Labuschagne 10* Smith 8*) chasing 399
England turn to Sam Curran for first change. Little bit of shape causes Labuschagne to squeeze a leg-glance into his pad. They run a single. Another inswinger is potted through mid-on, past Archer's drive, by Smith, his legs 30cm wide of leg-stump in his stance, for four.
OVER 9: AUS 39/2 (Labuschagne 9* Smith 4*) chasing 399
Broad has a ring of fielders on the legside from square leg to mid on, all in catching positions for Labuschagne, trying to make him feel tentative with the Smithesque strokeplay from middle and off through the onside. One on middle and leg, though, is easily dealt with, tickling it fine for a single.
OVER 8: AUS 38/2 (Labuschagne 8* Smith 4*) chasing 399
Labuschagne leaves as judiciously as ever then works one past short leg for a single. Archer arrows a quick one across Smith which clips his pad and scoots down for four leg-byes. A fuller ball is hammered off the back foot through mid-off for four - no front foot momentum at all, just balance on one leg and a perfect swing of the bat.
OVER 7: AUS 29/2 (Labuschagne 7* Smith 0*) chasing 399
Labuschagne gets off the mark with a drive drilled through mid-off for four and then tucks three off middle and off through midwicket, exposing Warner to Broad who dispatches him with the clinical efficiency of the Lord High Executioner.
Wicket!!
Warner c Burns b Broad 11 His second-highest innings of the series ends when Broad angles one into the left-hander, entices it to straighten and Warner nicks off to third slip. Smart catch by Burns to his right and Broad's bunny departs at his hands for the seventh time in the series. FOW 29/2
OVER 6: AUS 22/1 (Warner 11* Labuschagne 0*) chasing 399
Harris's series ends at 54 runs in six innings. Archer beats Warner outside off, draws the edge that flies to the right of gully for four and is rapped on the pad by a rapid, good length ball that keeps low but was heading down the legside.
OVER 5: AUS 18/1 (Warner 7* Labuschagne 0*) chasing 399
And there it is, a leg bye takes them to 14. Low bounce turns a good length ball from Broad into a shooter that scuttles through to Bairstow. He drills a straighter one through mid-on for four and watches his off-stump cartwheel towards the keeper next ball. Terrific from Broad.
Wicket!!
Harris b Broad 9 Shane Warne gets the assist for suggesting England would be worried by Australia's start. Having been hit for four, Broad rips through Harris's defences with one that straightens and knocks off-stump out of the ground. Harris departs without the applause he deserves for a record Australian opening stand for the series. FOW 18/1
OVER 4: AUS 13/0 (Harris 5* Warner 7*) chasing 399
Warner has a fiddle at a square cut, plays it with a bat at 135 degrees and falls over on his front foot, missing out as it zooms into Bairstow's gloves. Because his foot movement is so confused, Archer raps him on the pad as he loses his bearings as the ball is speared across him but he cashes in on a wide one and thumps it square for four, followed by a tight single to midwicket. They've equalled the highest first wicket stand of the series.
David Warner has played 38% false shots this series.
In the entire CricViz database (2006 - to present), no other recognised batsman to face 100+ balls in a series has recorded a higher false shot percentage.
For a player of Warner's ability, that's astonishing. #Ashes— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 15, 2019
OVER 3: AUS 8/0 (Harris 5* Warner 2*) chasing 399
Another ripper from Broad to Harris pitching on a fourth-stump line and straightening to whistle past off-stump. The next ball stays true, is slightly overpitched and Harris pumps a drive straight past the bowler for four.
OVER 2: AUS 4/0 (Harris 1* Warner 2*) chasing 399
Jofra Archer starts at 84mph to Harris, three unthreatening dot balls are followed by one from round the wicket on to the left-hander's pads and he whips it fine for a single. Shane Warne has a feeling in his water that David Warner has a big score in him today. Archer adds a couple of clicks to his speed to Warner who is beaten on the defensive by one that nips away.
OVER 1: AUS 3/0 (Harris 0* Warner 2*) chasing 399
Stuart Broad comes round the wicket, arrows his first ball across Harris who tries to tickle, doesn't reach it and they run a bye as it carries on travelling down the legside. England are paying Warner back in kind with chirp and volume. Broad, magnificently, makes one spit and jag past Warner's edge as he groped forward. Waner smiles as if to whistle in the dark then flicks two off middle and leg down to fine leg, running hard to complete the second. Broad has him fishing at the next outside off, beaten all ends up as it veers towards the slips.
I have a feeling this is going to be a close finish to this Test Match....
Lots of time left in the game.#Ashes2019#LoveTestCricket— Jason Gillespie ���� (@dizzy259) September 15, 2019
Out come the openers
Australia's highest opening partnership of the series is 13 in the second innings at Edgbaston. This pair's highest is 12. Marcus Harris has seven stitches in his right hand.
Australia need 399 to win
England add 16, all in boundaries, two sixes and a four. On comes the heavy roller and England will begin their quest to draw a first Ashes series since 1972 will begin at 11.27am.
Wicket!
Leach c Hazlewood b Lyon 9 Top edges a slog sweep, sends up a steepler and Hazlewood sprints 15m round from mid-on to take it at midwicket. FOW 329 all out
OVER 95: ENG 329/9 (Leach 9* Broad 12*)
Cummins bounces Broad who steps away and swats the hip-high delivery over square leg for six. Watch your metatarsals next ball. Here comes the sandshoe crusher. Nope. Broad retreats even further to the next ball, flashes the bat around and misses. Steve Smith has gone to longstop! There's a fly slip, two out on the pull square, deep fine leg. Cummins, instead of bowling at the stumps, mulishly bowls short again and Broad carts him over cow corner for six more! Pitch it up. He does bowl a full one outside off and Broad swings and misses at it from square leg. He tries to defend the last which nibbles away from the edge. England lead by 398.
OVER 94: ENG 317/9 (Leach 9* Broad 0*)
Leach is reprimanded by the umpire for running straight down the middle of the pitch after pretending to play tip and run. He defends a couple perfectly but is looking to be positive, too, without piercing the infield. Maiden.
OVER 93: ENG 317/9 (Leach 9* Broad 0*)
Pat Cummins is targeting Jofra's oxters, banging it in and looking for the armpit dinger. Archer lets the first go past his ribs as he tries to tuck it fine. Cummins barely appeals for the wicket, Paine does and the captain opts to review immediately ... with rare success for once. It's the most delicate kiss of the glove, a slender sycophant to a monarch. That makes it seven successful DRS reviews out of 31 for the Australians this series. Broad swipes at the couple of bouncers he receives but misses them as he steps away to leg.
Wicket!
Archer c Paine b Cummins 3 Kissed the glove as he tried to tuck one off his chest down to fine leg. FOW 317/9
AUSTRALIA review
Archer c Paine b Cummins Potential strangle.
OVER 92: ENG 317/8 (Archer 3* Leach 9*)
Lyon has a slip and a short leg and is ripping it away from the left-handed Leach's edge so much that he posts a gully after two balls, drops short and Leach scythes him off the back foot in front of point for four. It gives Leach the big idea to try a slog sweep, arcs his bat round and misses. Big turn for Lyon for the rest of the over off the pitch, not the rough. England lead by 386.
Good morning
Out come the players to the strains of Jerusalem. Jack Leach and Jofra Archer walk to the middle. Leach will be on strike. The new ball is 11 overs old. Nathan Lyon will start.
Vaughan on Root
Michael Vaughan believes Joe Root is still the man to lead England, despite the criticism he's received this series.
All the talk of Joe Root’s position being under threat - I understand it in a way. But I still think it’s wrong. It sometimes takes captains a long time to understand how to go about things, and develop that tactical nous and instinct. He’s going in the right direction. Root is certainly the man to lead them forward.
This series has been pretty much the story of Root’s time as captain: inconsistent. One week good, one week bad. And then repeat. That’s why England haven’t done enough to win the Ashes, even though they’ve shown a lot of character so far at The Oval.
Read Vaughan's full column here.
Looking ahead to day four
Joe Denly's fluent 94 on day three put England in control of the final Ashes test and the hosts moved on to 313-8 to lead Australia by 382 runs at the close of play on Saturday.
Denly fell six runs short of his maiden test century and Ben Stokes made a sparkling 67 in bright sunshine at the Oval to put England in a strong position to level the series at 2-2.
Australia ensured they will retain the Ashes by winning the fourth Test in Manchester and are bidding to secure their first test series victory in England since 2001.
Denly and Stokes came together after England lost Rory Burns for 20 and Joe Root (21) in the morning.
Burns had driven Peter Siddle sweetly through mid-off to bring up the first half-century opening stand of the series but he departed after a wild slash at a wide ball from spinner Nathan Lyon which he edged to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
Captain Root, bidding to register his first test century in the series, pushed forward tentatively at Lyon and nicked a simple catch to Steve Smith at slip and the home side took lunch on 88 for two.
Stokes, dropped at slip off Lyon on seven, started slowly before unfurling some trademark attacking shots to entertain a packed crowd.
Denly clipped Josh Hazlewood through mid-wicket for his seventh four to reach fifty for the third time in the series and the 33-year-old right-hander struck a few sweetly-timed strokes in his highest test score.
Stokes, who made a brilliant century to lead England to a dramatic victory in the third test at Headingley, moved past fifty with a six off Marnus Labuschagne before he was bowled by Lyon to end a fine third-wicket partnership of 127.
Denly's five-hour vigil was halted when he edged Siddle to Smith at slip and Jonny Bairstow fell for 14, nicking another catch to Smith off the bowling of Mitchell Marsh.
Sam Curran was caught down the leg side by Paine off Pat Cummins for a breezy 17, Chris Woakes was brilliantly caught one-handed by Smith off Marsh and Jos Buttler plundered 47 before skying Siddle to a diving Labuschagne at square leg.
Jofra Archer and Jack Leach steered England through to the close without further loss and Australia will face a daunting run chase over the remaining two days of the match.
- Rob Bagchi will be here at 11am to provide over-by-over coverage
