Australia has taken a 1-0 lead in the 2017-18 Ashes series and maintained its longstanding unbeaten run in Brisbane with a ten-wicket victory over England.
More Ashes
» Match report: Australia go 1-0
» Five talking points from the match
» The Liebke ratings
» Steve Smith, batting genius
Final score
England 302 all out, 195 all out
Australia 328 all out, 0/173
Australia are on the doorsteps of an opening win after pulling away from England on day four of the Gabba Test on Sunday. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 5 at the Gabba from 11am (AEDT).
After three gruelling days of Test match cricket, it remained to be seen if both teams were still up for another such day of going hammer and tongs at each other.
England needed their captain Joe Root to convert his start into an innings like his counterpart played just a day earlier. However, for the second innings in a row, Root fell to an in-dipper, leaving the English side exposed.
Jonny Bairstow’s batting number came for questioning for the second time in the game after Nathan Lyon’s off-spin made life miserable for the England left-handed batsmen but what would worry the management even more was their lower-order collapse.
In the first innings, England lost 6/56 after having gotten themselves to a reasonable position. On day four, their last five wickets fell for a mere 40 runs, after having reached 5/155 at one stage.
Batting against aggressive pace was an issue even during their previous Ashes series but on a lot more docile surface and against a bowling line-up that hasn’t lived up to the menacing hype from before the game, it would hurt even more.
What was even more surprising was the sudden loss of their positive body language after setting Australia a target of 170. It wasn’t the most difficult total to chase down for the hosts but small chases have often proven to be tricky on day four pitches.
Instead, England failed to get close to sending either of the Aussie openers back – there was barely an appeal – and saw the pair mount 114 for the opening wicket. Debutant Cameron Bancroft completed his maiden fifty after David Warner had done the same earlier.
Come the final day, it’s a mere formality for Australia to go 1-0 up but can England set the tone for what can be expected from them in the rest of the series?
Prediction
Australia to complete the formalities in the first hour of the day’s play without losing more than one wicket in their chase.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Day 5 of the 2017-18 Ashes series from 11am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
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TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Great effort, lads, and thanks for the call, Suneer. Hope England are more competitive in Adelaide, though not too competitive!
Adam
Guest
I heard him saying that Warner deserved it and Bancroft should block out the rest to help him. I do like Clarke as a commentator but that's an odd call. It's about the team performance not the individual, and more time at the crease for Bancroft is far more important than another notch in the centuries column for Warner.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
So that will be that from me as we look ahead to the second Test. The first ever pink-ball Test in the Ashes. Another chapter in the long history of the oldest cricketing rivalry in the world... ...fascinating to think we have come this far from all those years ago. Who knows they might look back at this Adelaide Test 140 years down the line and think about it the same way. With that thought, I leave you for the day. Hope to see you around at The Roar for the rest of the series. Ciao!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great win! On to Adelaide we go. Australia will win 5-0 if England don't win there. Cheers Suneer.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yes, unless the conditions are really atrocious - too hot or too cold - it really doesn't make too much sense in this day and age. And especially when the game's about to end, absolutely pointless.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep, after the third day if someone said Australia to win by 10 wickets, it would have been met with a raised eyebrow. I myself thought Australia were still favourites and saw them scrape to a win on day five but this was a solid comeback. Thanks for following as always, WB.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Steven Smith has been declared the man-of-the-match for his century, captaincy and good catching. One of his best 100s, he says. Smith speaks about the bottom-order of the batting and how they dug in for long. Does admit it could be different with the pink ball and they will need to think through and prepare for it. Points to how England have some bowlers who might gain some advantage from the Adelaide conditions. Praises Paine for his keeping apart from "that one chance which was a thick edge and bounced more".
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Joe Root: (About Bairstow): A mountain has been made out of a molehill. Says they were in the game in the first three days but for that Steven Smith innings "that took it away from us." Also calls out that first innings collapse as a bad one.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Much like most Test matches between two reasonably, well-contested teams, there are various turning moments in the game. There were a few here. England looked like they had begun well and gotten themselves to 4/246 after winning the toss & should have got to at least 400 from there. Australia then fell to 4/76 in reply, but egged on by their captain Steven Smith, they kept chipping away at the English lead till they actually got in front. England threw everything at them but could just not dislodge Smith and that would be a big, big concern heading into Adelaide. England were in an early strife of their own in the second innings but Root and Stoneman looked to have dug them out. A target of 250 might have made things interesting but then another collapse ensued as they lost five for 40 in the second dig. From there on, it was all Australia. Easy peasy in the end.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Great win Australia considering how close it was for first 3 days. Top effort to get the runs without losing any wickets. Thanks for your efforts as always Suneer !
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
As you would expect from an Ashes Test, lot happened off the field before the game - and even during the game with the Bairstow story - but the match itself had its moments. The end result was a one-sided victory for Australia but that wasn't the full story. Not by any stretch. England competed and got themselves ahead at times during the first three days of the encounter. They had their moments on day four too, but in the end lost their steam in the second half of the marathon. Ian Healy calls it an even arm-wrestle on the first three days before "it went down like that, boom", and gestures it with his fist. Steven Smith had kept Australia in the game in the first three days, as did the the bowlers before Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon ran through the England second innings to set up the stage for Warner and Bancroft.
Ouch
Guest
Couldn't believe my ears when Clarke was going on about that.
Ouch
Guest
Well done Oz. Better luck next time England. Broad, Root and Jimmy need a bit more help
Damo
Guest
Combined 840 runs for first innings at the WACA and Renshaw only made 18. Clearly out of form unfortunately.
rock86
Guest
Are you serious. There was one session on day 4 that undone them, the rest were very very evenly poised.
Rellum
Roar Guru
And I feel for Warner, he clearly deserved a hundred there....... NOTE: (That is me being sarcastic towards Clarke and his silly commentary. )
Paul Potter
Roar Guru
Apart from place of birth, what actual differences are there between Jake Ball and Darren Pattinson?
Peter
Roar Rookie
Gotta feel for Renshaw. He'll probably be plugging away in empty stadia for the next few years. But Bancroft is a class batsman.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Australia have won by 10 wickets! Exceptional chase given the circumstances, with Warner overcoming his first innings early dismissal, and Bancroft supporting him so well on debut. Thumping win in the end after it looked it could get a lot, lot closer.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Congrats boys, now come on QLD and beat WA and it will be a great cricketing day.