Australia (303 & 155) defeat England (188 & 124) to win 5th Test by 146 runs - Take series 4-0

[Robert]

What I meant is the supporting wickets have papered over the cracks in the bowling. Had the wickets been flat like previous tours then a lack of a quality spinner would have haunted England again.

Yeah, they have been able to keep Smifff quiet at least. Australia haven't been piling up 600.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Lol is this series still going on . Let me guess what could be happening right now, Aussies must be thrashing the English as usual. If I am right then the series is so predictable.

 

[MenInG]

Wicketkeeper Sam Billings believes England have a "huge opportunity" to win the fifth and final Ashes Test and claim a first victory in Australia since 2011 despite a familiar batting collapse.

England were rolled for 188 in 47.4 overs on day two of the pink-ball fixture in Hobart - Chris Woakes top-scoring with 36 and Billings chipping in with 29 on Test debut - as they failed to pass 200 for the fifth time in nine innings in a series Australia currently lead 3-0.

That left the tourists trailing by 115 runs after both sides had batted once and Australia swelled their lead to 152 at stumps, although they did lose David Warner for nought - the opener bagging a pair - Marnus Labuschagne for five and Usman Khawaja for 11.

Speaking to BT Sport, Billings said: "I think all results are still possible, absolutely. We have to cut out those bad sessions and take it to a manageable total for us as a batting unit.

England's Ashes batting woes
England’s first innings was the fifth time in the series they have failed to reach 200 in an innings. They have failed to reach 300 in any.

"There is a huge opportunity to get a result out of this game. The first session [on day three] is going to be huge and set the tone for the rest of the match. You have to look at those big moments and really grasp them.

"[This evening] was the template of how we have to bowl. The intensity and consistency was there and we made it really difficult for Australia."

Billings was on his way home after completing a Big Bash League stint with Sydney Thunder - only to then be called up by England after injuries to Jos Buttler (finger) and Jonny Bairstow (thumb).

The Kent captain, 30 subsequently replaced Buttler behind the stumps at Blundstone Arena as he became England's 700th Test cricketer.

The right-hander looked composed with the bat before he was out to Cameron Green and then claimed two catches late on the second day to account for Labuschagne and Khawaja.

Billings added: "I really enjoyed walking out to bat. I absolutely loved it. It is a challenge that a week ago I didn't expect to be having. I expected to be in the cold back at home!

"You have grown up [wanting to face] the best seam attack in the world, probably, and I saw it is a great opportunity. I just tried to be positive in everything I did."

Billings' energy behind the stumps has been notable in this Test, something he believes is crucial for a wicketkeeper as they try to make batters feel uncomfortable.

He added: "I see the wicketkeeping role as [being vocal] but I don't do it for myself, I do it for the team. It is so individual but for me, especially as captain at Kent as well, I like to lead by example and from the front.

"I like to create an intensity. As a batsman, you don't like it when people are swarmed around and it feels like one versus 11 out in the middle.

"That's how I think we should be playing our cricket, making it hard for the batsmen. People are probably fed up listening to me but I feel like it has an effect."

SKY

 

[Buffet]

If Eng can take wickets cheaply even then the target may become a bit too much for this batting.

 

[Justcrazy]

If Eng can take wickets cheaply even then the target may become a bit too much for this batting.

England batting looking hopeless, even 200 is big for them, need a big effort, not likely in this series.

 

[Justcrazy]

England need a big bowling effort here to come back in the game.

 

[Justcrazy]

Four

Boland punches a good straight drive

 

[Buffet]

England batting looking hopeless, even 200 is big for them, need a big effort, not likely in this series.

Well, if the target is 200 then they may have some chance, but if it becomes 300 then it is pretty much beyond their batting.

 

[Justcrazy]

Broad testing the batsman here , two big appeals in one over

 

[Justcrazy]

Well, if the target is 200 then they may have some chance, but if it becomes 300 then it is pretty much beyond their batting.

They already have 162 runs , England batted poorly in first innings , when you give away such a big lead , its over 90 percent times

 

[Justcrazy]

OUT

Boland gone !

 

[Justcrazy]

If England can keep the Aussies within 270 , they can still win this

 

[Justcrazy]

OUT

Head gone now

England bowlers need to get the last 5 wickets fast here

 

[Justcrazy]

OUT

Aussies lead by 178 runs , but have just 4 wickets in hand

 

[Savak]

Steve Smith fell under pressure. It's been a while since he has made a significant score

 

[Justcrazy]

Wood 4 - 19 , great spell , but England bowlers need to finish this.

 

[Justcrazy]

Steve Smith fell under pressure. It's been a while since he has made a significant score

He is now in the downward stage of his career, his best days are past him. He will still score but will lack consistency .

 

[Varun]

Australia already have a good enough lead (181*) to rattle England during their chase.

If they can somehow get up to 250 it's game over.

 

[Justcrazy]

England need to rise to the occasion here and get these last 4 wickets quickly

 

[Manunited18]

Excellent effort from woods, such a big hearted performer.

 

[Ab Fan]

That lead is good enough for Australia. 189 already, they would want to get to 250 though.

 

[Justcrazy]

38 runs crucial partnership here

 

[Justcrazy]

Woakes should be played only in seaming conditions , otherwise he does not contribute much

 

[Justcrazy]

Australia lead by 227 runs now

 

[Justcrazy]

OUT

finally a wicket !

 

[Justcrazy]

Can England keep the lead within 250 here

 

[Justcrazy]

England need to finish this here

 

[Justcrazy]

OUT

Wood strikes , he gets a fiver

 

[Justcrazy]

Almost another one , fast and furious yorker

 

[Robert]

Good man Woody!

Australia effectively 236-8.

Too many for this England side to chase down.

 

[Justcrazy]

England need two more wicket taking balls.

 

[Justcrazy]

It will take monumental effort for England here to finish with a win

 

[Justcrazy]

Carey playing a great innings here

 

[James]

Broad and particularly Wood have bowled exceptionally well. That is as good and energetic a session that England have had all tour. I actually enjoyed watching it. Normally with such a strong team effort they would be right in the Test match, but Australia already have too many runs for this pitch I think. Once again England’s first innings batting has let them down. Their chance of chasing 270ish will be 15-20% at best…

 

[James]

Good man Woody!

Australia effectively 236-8.

Too many for this England side to chase down.

Agree, but good to see the team putting in a shift on the field for once, and it’s been brilliant bowling from Woody and Draco.

 

[Robert]

Carey should have been out, Woakes got a millimetre of boot behind the line.

 

[James]

Carey playing an impish and very useful innings here for Australia. England a bit unlucky not to have him out.

 

[Varun]

I think Australia have enough already, but whenever England go out there they should throw the bat at it ODI style. They have nothing to lose.

 

[James]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">England have taken all 20 wickets in an Ashes Test in Australia for the first time since Sydney 2014 - 10 matches ago.</p>— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) <a href="https://twitter.com/willis_macp/status/1482612370057080835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[James]

11/0

Aussies fail to review a Burns lbw call off Starc, would have been out.

 

[Robert]

After getting clattered in his first spell, Wood has 9-78 for the match.

If England somehow fluke a miracle here, he is my Player of the Match.

 

[James]

After getting clattered in his first spell, Wood has 9-78 for the match.

If England somehow fluke a miracle here, he is my Player of the Match.

Stunning figures, what a comeback from him.

 

[James]

Burns having bags of luck, probably due some to be fair.

 

[James]

32/0

 

[Nikhil_cric]

If anybody thinks Wood would be better off bowling fuller, today has proved that that cannot be the case. He's better off bowling fast and short at the body.

 

[Varun]

January 2022: The month of successful 4th innings run chases.

Advantage England.

 

[imshally81]

Good start by England... Very positive approach by English openers... RR is almost 5

 

[Robert]

If anybody thinks Wood would be better off bowling fuller, today has proved that that cannot be the case. He's better off bowling fast and short at the body.

On this wicket, yes. The same length did not result in many wickets for him in the previous tests. The Durham man finishes the series on something of a triumph, having bowled four tests of unrelenting pace and hostility without breaking down.

Fifty up for England, going at five an over. The England opening stand average is now higher than the Australian tenth wicket average.

 

[James]

WinViz favours England 51-49.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

On this wicket, yes. The same length did not result in many wickets for him in the previous tests. The Durham man finishes the series on something of a triumph, having bowled four tests of unrelenting pace and hostility without breaking down.

Fifty up for England, going at five an over. The England opening stand average is now higher than the Australian tenth wicket average.

Point is he is not effective bowling a good length. His role is very specific. Enforcer on fast, bouncy tracks. Or in conditions where there is a chance for reverse.

Hrs not a new ball bowler

 

[James]

Burns just about survives an Australia review for caught behind, 0/64

 

[Robert]

Point is he is not effective bowling a good length. His role is very specific. Enforcer on fast, bouncy tracks. Or in conditions where there is a chance for reverse.

Hrs not a new ball bowler

That’s the wrong role England have given him. It’s such a waste. Same as Flintoff for his first 25 tests. Then he started pitching up and was England’s best bowler for three years.

Oops, Burns goes. 68-1. Interval.

 

[James]

Rory Burns and Zak Crawley’s stand of 68 was England's highest Ashes opening stand, home or away, since the 2013 Boxing Day Test.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

That’s the wrong role England have given him. It’s such a waste. Same as Flintoff for his first 25 tests. Then he started pitching up and was England’s best bowler for three years.

Oops, Burns goes. 68-1. Interval.

No, it's the right role. When he bowled fuller , he got smashed.

 

[Robert]

No, it's the right role. When he bowled fuller , he got smashed.

On the Hobart wicket, the only one where his short stuff has worked.

The five pitches have been curious this time, not traditionally Australian at all, offering some lateral movement but also bounce, not so much English wickets as South African.

Four England bowlers finish the series averaging 26 or less.

It’s just a shame that the batting is made of tissue paper.

Here we go again. I think the top five are going to have to do this, Pope and downward will fold.

 

[James]

Here we go again. I think the top five are going to have to do this, Pope and downward will fold.

Sam Billings is having a good debut and he is an unknown quantity, this is a great chance for him to put his hand up and be a hero.

 

[Robert]

Sam Billings is having a good debut and he is an unknown quantity, this is a great chance for him to put his hand up and be a hero.

He looked convincing in his first dig…..

Woakes and Wood can at least thump it.

Oh, Dawid A bad end to the series after a bright start.

66 runs to the wicket in the gloom….

 

[James]

This is the toughest time to bat. If Root can survive and have Crawley or Stokes with him in the morning then this is doable. 5-6 down overnight and it’s curtains though.

 

[Ab Fan]

Is this Root's last tour to Australia? He should get his record fixed here itself.

 

[shah_1]

Green is a special talent

 

[boomboomcheema]

England losing again after giving false hopes of a fightback

 

[Robert]

Is this Root's last tour to Australia? He should get his record fixed here itself.

Goodness no, he’s only 30, he has another Ashes tour in him.

 

[Robert]

The New Miller sticking his hand up for Australia.

 

[Smudger]

Goodness no, he’s only 30, he has another Ashes tour in him.

Don't know why some people trying hard to make this Root's last Australian tour

 

[Robert]

Stokes gone. Massive moment. He was made for this situation, but has had a low-key series.

Another wicket goes to the short ball at Hobart.

 

[Rajdeep]

Such an overhyped cricketer Ben Stokes is...Lol. Compare his performance this series to what Shardul Thakur did as an all rounder in last Aust tour.

 

[Robert]

Don't know why some people trying hard to make this Root's last Australian tour

It’s this Tugga “mental scarring” nonsense (that any good sports psychologist can put right).

 

[James]

Such an overhyped cricketer Ben Stokes is...Lol. Compare his performance this series to what Shardul Thakur did as an all rounder in last Aust tour.

Stokes has had a tough tour but it has to be put into the context of his preparation, he wasn’t even meant to be getting on the plane.

 

[Varun]

Put Stokes out of his misery and drop him for good.

Between going back to FC or running to the IPL, we know what he will do.

 

[Maher96]

It’s this Tugga “mental scarring” nonsense (that any good sports psychologist can put right).

Tough time never last, only tough people do.

Root will have to show immense character if England are coming out of this.

 

[Robert]

Root bowled by a horrible grubber. Nobody could have kept that out.

No ton in Australia for Joe again.

 

[James]

Root gets an unplayable gazunder on a normal length, would have wiped anyone out.

Game set & match…

 

[Last Monetarist]

That kept really low:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/hc96uq" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Root gone. Boland's relentless accuracy gets him.

 

[Manunited18]

Put Stokes out of his misery and drop him for good.

Between going back to FC or running to the IPL, we know what he will do.

Whose going to replace him? The guy has 10 test hundreds and is at peak of his powers. Lack of cricket since his finger injury and personal issues have been his problems.

 

[Saj]

Looks like 4-0 incoming.

Aussie bowlers superb again.

 

[Robert]

If anybody thinks Wood would be better off bowling fuller, today has proved that that cannot be the case. He's better off bowling fast and short at the body.

Are you Silverwood,
Are you Silverwood,
Are you Silverwood in disguise (in disguise)
Are you Silverwood in disguise?

 

[Manunited18]

That was a proper Grave digger, unlucky Root.

 

[shah_1]

Poor series for Root

 

[James]

In a way it’s refreshing to see an England batter actually being ripped out by an unplayable delivery for once (Root) and not tossing away their wicket unnecessarily.