Australia’s hopes of winning their first Test series in England since 2001 slipped away last night as they produced a flat effort with the ball and in the field in the fifth Ashes Test.
After retaining the Ashes at Old Trafford, Australia celebrated with vigour, as well they might given the significance of what they achieved. This Australian side has been starved of success on the road in the past six or seven years so taking a 2-1 lead to hold on to the Ashes was a big deal.
Australian skipper Tim Paine then made the right noises about his side being focused only on winning this series. Whether they would be able to play at full throttle after retaining the urn was unclear.
Now it is clear.
Australia have been sloppy and uninspired over the past three days. First Paine made the odd choice to bowl first on what is known as England’s best Test batting pitch and the one that most closely resembles Australian conditions.
Then Australia let England off the hook on Day 1 by turfing a slew of catches. After that loose performance in the field they batted like a side that had nothing on the line. Given a second crack at the England batting unit they put down even more catches.
(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Meanwhile, for the first time in this series, their entire attack looked deflated. Playing his fifth Test on the bounce after a draining World Cup, Pat Cummins has looked knackered. He is the only bowler from either side to play through that entire 50-over tournament as well as fronting up for all five Tests.
There was debate after the fourth Test about whether Cummins should be rested. As the world’s number one Test bowler, he needs to be protected by Australia. In hindsight, they would have been better served by giving him a spell and instead playing Mitchell Starc or James Pattinson.
Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon also cut tired figures last night. Part of the reason for that was how well England’s top order batted.
Rory Burns and Joe Denly produced the highest opening stand of the series. While it amounted only to 54 runs, by the time it was broken, Australia’s attack was clearly flagging. It wasn’t that their quicks bowled horribly, rather that they were lacking the vigour they normally boast.
This was exploited by Denly, Burns and in-form all-rounder Ben Stokes. Having begun the series looking like a walking wicket, Denly has had a dramatic turnaround, to the point where he should now get a decent run at Test cricket. Last night he showcased a tight defence while, for the most part, shelving the optimistic off drives that had continually brought him unstuck. He was dismissed just short of his maiden Test ton, dismissed for 94.
Stokes, meanwhile, continued his stunning series. Batting with controlled aggression, the left-hander helped to push the Aussies out of this Test with his solid 67.
The challenge for Australia now will be to show some gumption with the bat on Day 4. There may be some futures riding on that, most obviously the Test career of 31-year-old former keeper turned batsman Matt Wade. But he is only one of five members of Australia’s top seven desperately in need of some runs.
Australia have the Ashes packed away in their kit bag. The urn is not going anywhere. But they will be keen not to end this fine series on a flat note by surrendering in this final Test.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Australian captains to win the toss, bowl and lose the Test against England in England: R Ponting Birmingham 2005 T Paine The Oval 2019
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Australian captains to win the toss, bowl and lose the Test against England in England: R Ponting Birmingham 2005 T Paine The Oval 2019
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Those stats are awful , we generally have had a real problem batting in england for the last decade. Idiotic not trying alex carey who had a blinder all summer one england despite it being white ball for most part, he did the same in county though, he couldn't have done any worse
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Backs up the fact you bat first unless the pitch looks super green in england, irrespective of conditions here which seemed a little more neutral it can be a confidence thing although we never saw day 5 and if we were to win would have had to bat then with more turn . I think 4 of 5 tests in England showed higher totals batting first each time outside of the first test
Pierro
Roar Rookie
could have been so different this last test but for selections and batting first and some poor drs blunders. still we retain the urn which is an achievement in england
Pierro
Roar Rookie
stand by it batting last is just the pitts on this pitch, despite the poor batting its still worse , we can probably say its a mixture of both though in any event
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Music to my ears anon, only bit I wouldn’t have agreed is starc for marsh, both had great figures at the oval in 2015 but marshes were slightly better and he had good internal lead up form. I still wouldn’t select marsh outside of the few london tests where he’s bowled exceptionally well previously . Cant rely on him for batting but I think we all knew that and langer stated he was in for bowling. I think there were some grounds for siddle as in the past he came in to the oval and blitzed them. I think the problem is he’s older and has dropped off pace a tad more. He was unlucky though 6 dropped catches this series bowled well in parts in first few tests was unlucky. despite pattinson and starc having huge claims the real problem the selectors muddled up were the openers for me. shouldn’t have started at oval and I selected as much before it here on roar I binned them both but many wouldn’t have it, averages of 9 and 11 give me a break. I felt the same way at the start over wade and paine and can see how many times they lured wade off stump to then quickly bowl one in at his pads got him three times that way, poor defensive technique and not intelligent. I will say I selected warner at this test just because I thought he may get one innings off on a flat wicket and stacked with head and marsh it created a lot of depth if we binned the two openers and had khawaja at the top, less pressure on the team for me as a whole than the two batting bunnies at the top who don’t go on english pitches. So agree with khawaja as opener think I selected him in that position first test, he could have got us off to 50 for 1 several times
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I remember wades last test start, never liked his technique he kept playing widely with poor technique. He had one good test and got lucky in it here for me. If he can make runs here in this test under pressure , despite his last start 30 which was on a flat wicket , then for me he will have validated himself for the most part but otherwise with his average of 24 pre this match I would generally still lead with the younger Head , also gives him more experience in england when he will be back and wade won't
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Jeff warners made one scrappy first innings 50 and was lucky to get there. you can’t seriously say that defies first innings analysis of 2015. I disagree his average outside of a dead rubber at the oval last series and lords on a flat wicket, propped up his average as I repeatedly told you. 7 of 8 first innings failures in 13 to 15. Is pitiful getting australia off to a poor start but for rogers holding him up in 15 which is what I told you before the first test. Your clinging to second inning stats in 15, fact is his technique when it moved about was poor in england always for the most part which was more so in first innings in general unless it was really dead which happened a bit more second innings, It was even deader in 15 at lords and oval than this year ( australia racked up bigger runs at both grounds it was dead flat really and even then others made more than him). Pitches have had more variability this series for sure and thats where I told you warner fails in england per those first innings where it also moved about maybe a bit more so . These pitches haven’t been totally flat in general, theyve provide bounce and some variability, you can’t fail every first innings when it matters it sets the team up for failure 8 of 9 times previously. He failed four first innings again here out of five totally supporting my first innings theory one match is not something to base your argument on. your theory is flawed I said full stop I think his average was propped up by a dead rubber on a really flat pitch last series, and it was in england all along and I said we should be wary of him here in england pre series on a few grounds but didn’t want him in after first test, 8 of 9 first innings fails previously was a big sign and he’d had a year out. Yes he’s got worse but that could be factored in on top of what I said . he just does not handle english conditions opening despite his deeper second innings in 15 the combined averages for most part were pathetic , its proven despite his form getting worse, its historical as the first innings generally move about more than second and this series has not been as flat as those london wickets in 15. You did argue for his selection off the back of second innings runs in 15 often when the pressure was off and some argument that could handle english conditions, fact is the aggregate averages of each match outside of the flat wickets in lords and oval were very low under 30 and those two tests were extremely flat pitches and he still failed first innings at lords, we’ve had more variation this series for sure which he does not like. our most senior batsman here was never good enough . sure he’s older here which concerned me in the background too after a year off and I didn’t even mention that so much but was concerned. You wanted him selected jeff off the basis of his second innings in 15 but he’d had a stinker in 13 too. you argued that the numbers would hold up for him off second innings in 15 but I’m saying his averages at each ground were poor outside of london flat conditons/dead rubber back then , so that argument was wrong . To say he’s gotten worse doesn’t really help your argument, he was already poor outside of two grounds in london in 2015 which is why I queried him before the series began when and you were bullish for him for sure. Im animated because I warned you pre series but its of course not personal
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Yeah but point is if we are in a position to win wed have to bat day 5 even if we batted properly , thats when detoriation comes. No thanks , nearly every time outside of the odd result the team batting first wins at the oval . Poor decision by paine, on top of another two DRS blunders. Bowlers did well enough all considering really , given the huge amount of overs they bowled on a 3 day back up . Hats off to cummins and hazel wood although selectors really should have bowled pattinson. Id bat first every time , root would have done the same. 80 percent batting first wins this series its a fact , headingly is the one pitch where run chases in 4th occur time after time
U
Roar Rookie
It wouldn’t be too bad if he was backing it all up with performance. But he’s not. To talk a big game you’ve got to score big
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Dont knock warner he got to double figures this innings whereas paine couldn't make his average of 11. terrible selection effort , they both had to go for me per my team before the selectors even selected
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Selection was definitely poor but i think both openers was poorest selection, hard to knock marsh as he was bought in clearly as a bowler per his previous record at lords/oval and langer said so and took 7 and had the best economy rate. All they had to do was pick khawaja and keep head in and elevate labs . the bowlers bowled well but big case to freshen up with pattinson/starc for hazelwood and siddle Wades been on shaky ground and lucky to start in front of head on averages , hopefully he can defy his weakness to the leg spin and make some runs here . I think all thats left is to see how far smith can go here !
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I understand the issue of backing up - 3 versus 4 days makes no difference whatsever if those bowlers are actually playing a follow-on 5 day Test. I know my pitches. Oval deteriorates after a a point in time. Not afte day 1. Your selection shortened for this Test shortened the batting order. Your position at the start of the series re Warner was way off the mark and has this has been shown to be true. You said he couldn't make a half century in the first innings (which he did), other than The Oval (which he didn't) but would inevitably make his "standard" 50 in the second innings (which he hasn't). Warner is simply out of form and it has no relationship to the series 4 years ago. And, mate, I have NEVER stated I wanted Warner in all series, or at any time. I have simply disagreed with your narrow stats based approach from a limited sample size; if that approach had held true, then Warner would have scored a half century in the 2nd innings of every Test, Smith would have failed on "northern grounds" (because that's what his historical stats show from 4 years ago) and Siddle would have taken a 6-for at The Oval (his inclusion which I belive you were calling for) because, the stats don't lie.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Yes fielders were also out there 200 overs at Manchester in last three days so bound to be a bit tired , another reason to bat first to give the bowlers and fielding a rest . Sure the battings been poor but you ALWAYS bat first at the oval unless its a green deck on some off chance. Bound to detoriate day 5 for spinner if we were a real chance to get the 400 runs, wed be going day 5 and face more spin problems off a detonating pitch preventing us from getting there. We’ve had poor batting at the top all series but batting first has made more runs all series bar one test .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Some closer totals have been acrrued in 4th innings for draws but no team has chased down 400 and actually won at the oval . Best is 322 I think. Eng v sri lanka. England have enough . Moreover the selectors made sure of us being batting short at least two batsman by selecting harris and warner again for some mixture of allegiance and supposed importance to retain batting order for long term structure back in australia . Head was needed for depth , khawaja to open for his more solid technique despite some brain fades when he gets going
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Jeff I beg to differ they tired the first day with old ball an extra 50 plus runs went accruing for sure , no doubt about it , if you don’t think 200 overs three days before has an impact bowling first then I’m not sure you know whats it like to back up off that , its brutal with 3 days rest after 4 tests . batting first is always the way on a flat wicket no matter the result, its evidenced all series . If you know your pitches headingly gets flatter, oval deteriorates . headingly always the place to chase runs down happened many times. Every test bar edbaston has seen a higher first innings total in any event this series 4 out 5 , its generally the go to and in this series batting first has garned more runs 80 percent of the time . I think its totally incorrect to assume we wouldn’t have had less pressure batting last. Moreover my selection ommitted both openers for more runs , totally right of course they are terrible we would have had a better platform for sure. I told you at the start warner was a query and was not wrong mate. I wish I was but he’s pitiful in england and should have been binned for this test for sure off two ducks. Its cost us big time and you wanted him in all series mate
AREH
Roar Guru
It is such a bad look, and was previously too with Wade chirping behind the stumps. You would hope he has learnt a bit, but perhaps not. That tough guy persona is reflective of the previous era of arrogance, and the one this team is supposed to be diverting from.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Session by session Bob! 50 run increments!
pakistanstar
Roar Rookie
Couldn't have said it better. If we rested Cummins and kept Starc in with his tail up then we wouldn't have to weaken our batting with an all-rounder.