The final Ashes Test won’t change which way the urn is headed, but it could serve a different purpose for both England and Australia. Join us for live scores and coverage of the fifth and final Test from The Oval from 8:00pm AEST.
Australia have had a long break between the previous Test and this one to reflect on what’s gone wrong for them in this series. One way or an other, every post-mortem will lead to the one fact that’s seen their demise in this series – clueless batting against quality swing in conditions that assist that brand of bowling.
And if the Oval track continues to behave in a manner that the surfaces at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge did, it won’t get any easier for the Aussies.
Historically, The Oval has assisted slow bowlers but it was only last year in a Test against India that the groundsman had left enough grass on the pitch to leave the visitors with much to do. Much like Australia, India had gone into the final Test having lost two in a row, and were bowled out for a mere 148 batting first.
Joe Root scored an unbeaten 149 of his own in reply, before India fared no better in the second dig and fell to 94 to lose by an innings and aplenty.
Not that one is suggesting things will go as pear-shaped for Australia as that, but the fact is the surface can be expected to continue helping seamers and if both the Aussie batsmen and bowlers don’t adjust quickly enough, a 4-1 scoreline looms large.
Indications between the previous Test and this one don’t seem to suggest much has changed.
In a tour game against Northamptonshire, the hosts piled up 396 batting first from around 90 overs and then had Australia stumbling to 5-87 at one stage. Mitchell Marsh’s 68 and a smashing 82 not-out from the bat of Pat Cummins pulled them through to 312 in reply.
While that showing made it clear that Australia will be facing a mountain of a task at The Oval, it also brought the performances of Marsh and Cummins in focus. With the ball, Marsh had picked up four while Cummins scalped three wickets as well.
Marsh should return to the side and could well replace his brother Shaun but it still remains to be seen if the selectors gamble on Cummins. One of Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Johnson could be made to sit out as a result.
For England, James Anderson has been ruled out, which allows Mark Wood a chance to continue. This will obviously be subject what the doctors think of his ankle – he has been playing with painkillers throughout and might need a surgery at a later date according to news reports.
The rest of the side might remain the same unless the track turns out to be an absolutely dry one, in which case there’s a possibility the management brings in leg-spinner Adil Rashid. By the looks of things though, the chances of that happening look bleak.
Follow the live scores and blog of this first day of the fifth Ashes Test between England and Australia from 8:00pm AEST on Thursday and post your comments in the section below.
Roger
Guest
You forgot the lol...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Australia end the day on a high, their first good day since Lord's, which now seems ages ago. They have piled up 3/287 in 79.4 overs with contributions from Chris Rogers, David Warner, Steven Smith and Adam Voges. Michael Clarke was the only failure in what could be his penultimate innings. England had earlier won the toss and decided to field first. This decision was based on the fact the track was green and expected to help the seamers but it didn't do as much as the previous ones. The odd ones swung around but there was nothing special in it. What also helped Australia was the way their openers, David Warner and Chris Rogers batted in the first hour - absorbing a lot of pressure. Australia will be aiming for 500 but they have the new ball to get out of their way tomorrow, first thing in the morning. If they do that, they could well in a position to dominate the Test like at Lord's. England will be aiming to restrict them to between 350-400, which by itself could be a reasonably big score. Doesn't look like a sub-three-day pitch this, unlike what a lot of us thought based on the reports from London. Even Michael Clarke had said in his pre-match conference he thought it wouldn't last too long. That's it from me, back tomorrow for the second day's play. Night.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The century-run stand is up and within a few deliveries, the umpires have decided that the light isn't good enough. So the batsmen have been asked to walk and that will be stumps on day one.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
One over before the new ball then, but the light's not great. Finn will bowl the 80th over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Pulled away for a four. Stokes has dug one in shot and Voges was looking to pull it. Does well and just eludes the square-leg fielder who was close in within the 30-yard radius. 3/285 in the the 79th, with the stand moving up to 99.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shot, four for Voges. Finn looks to bowl that wide off his crease but it's too full and easily nudged away through mid-wicket for a four. 3/280 in 78. Two overs for the new ball. Will be interesting to see how the Aussie batsmen go against it. Nothing much in the pitch to suggest it would make life difficult.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Ben Stokes is struggling with his right shoulder apparently. Not looking too comfortable.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
There was an appeal for a catch but it was a half-hearted appeal anyway and even the third umpire doesn't have too many looks at it. Was a widish ball that Voges squeezed through to wide of third slip where it was taken. But came off the bounce. 3/275 in 77
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Change in the bowling now. Ben Stokes takes over from Wood.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A very good Finn over that, three coming off it but had the batsmen in bit of a tangle. 3/275 in 76
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Edged, but no gully! That's reared up uncomfortably for Voges and he has only fended the Finn delivery away through gully for a couple. A fielder there could have gobbled it up with ease. 3/274 in the 76th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A good over from Wood, a maiden, with just a leg-bye coming from it. This was after Finn had conceded seven last over. 3/272 in 75.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Edged and doesn't carry! That's come off a very full delivery, and Smith was looking to use a lot of bottom hand and drill it through the leg-side. Gets an outside edge but doesn't go to the slip's hands. Gets four more. 3/269 in the 74th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wood decides to go round the stumps and bowls a maiden at Smith. 3/264 in 73. Smith is on 71.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Edged for a four. Second boundary in a row as Voges pokes at one nipping slightly back into him. No third slip in place and it goes in the gap between the second and gully. 3/264 in the 72nd
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shot, four! Drifted on to the pads again from Finn and Voges has clipped it away to fine-leg for four. That wasn't too fine and still gushes away... 3/260 in the 72nd
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
An appeal for lbw as Smith walks around to the off-side. Umpire calls it leg-byes and by that time Cook has decided to go for a review... ...Smith was shuffling across to the off, misses bat, hits pad but looks like it was going down the leg. DRS time. No bat involved. Ball-tracking suggests it's not even hitting the leg-stump and Smith survives. 3/256 in the 72nd
ak
Roar Guru
Moeen Ali should be bowling till new ball
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Steven Finn will take up the attack from the other end and Smith is on strike. Nine overs till the second new ball.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The fielders are running out on to the field now, followed by the Aussie batsmen. It's bright and sunny now. Would this this break have helped England regroup and get their bowlers to re-strategise? 3/255 in the 71st