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England win despite stunning Matt Wade ton

15th September, 2019
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15th September, 2019
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A scintillating ton from Matt Wade could not save Australia from a 135-run loss last night in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.

Wade strode to the crease shouldering enormous pressure for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the score was 3-56 and England were surging. Secondly, Australia were facing a monumental run chase to win their first Ashes series in the UK since 2001. Thirdly, his Test career was on the line – fail and he may never again play for Australia.

Superstar Steve Smith fell soon after, leaving Australia 4-85. From there it had to be Wade – he was the only remaining Aussie batsman with the talent to be able to produce something extraordinary. He proceeded to do just that. The Tasmanian began batting with the daring and decisiveness that earnt him selection in this series.

The left-hander imposed himself on bowlers at lower levels to earn an Ashes recall but has too often retreated into his shell at key moments in this series. When he’s backed himself to take on the English bowlers typically it has gone well.

Wade’s 110 in the first Test came at a rollicking strike of 77 as he unfurled his full array of strokes. Last night he again went after the England bowlers. He used his feet well to spinner Jack Leach and drove, cut and pulled beautifully against the quicks.

Jack Leach

(Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images)

The highlight of the evening was Wade’s intense and bizarre battle with England pace prodigy Jofra Archer. As Wade neared his ton, Archer lost his cool. He peppered the Aussie with bouncers and sledges and repeatedly walked down the pitch after bowling to stand right in front of Wade, who was jawing away as usual. It was odd, it was theatrical and it was riveting.

Australia will be justifiably delighted with having retained the Ashes in the UK for the first time since 2001, while England secured a consolation victory at the end of what has been a very long and draining UK summer.

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Many of the key players from both teams have been engaged in high-stakes international cricket for the past 15 weeks solid. The likes of Pat Cummins, Smith, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Archer have been going almost non-stop since the World Cup began on 30 May.

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Both teams have experienced emotional highs in that time. England claimed the World Cup trophy after the most extraordinary final in the tournament’s history, ending a long drought and capping four years of dedication to that task.

Australia, meanwhile, overcame the most torrid period in their modern history to go 2-1 up in this series at Old Trafford and retain The Urn.

The Aussies looked deflated in this Test, as if they had already conquered the summit. England, meanwhile, performed like a team smarting from their failure to regain the Ashes on home soil. They were more focused, more energetic and more clinical, particularly in the field.

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While Australia produced their worst fielding effort in recent memory, turfing a slew of chances, England pulled off a sequence of brilliant catches. That included the sharp diving take last night by Ben Stokes which killed off any slim hope of an Australian win.

That Stokes grab came after Australian talisman Smith tucked a Stuart Broad delivery off his hip in the direction of leg gully. Earlier, openers Marcus Harris and David Warner had failed yet again. Warner has had an astoundingly poor series yet will almost certainly survive thanks to his remarkable home record in Tests. Harris, though, has been just as bad as Warner yet doesn’t have the same credits in the bank. Averaging 24 with the bat after 17 Test innings, there would be no sense in retaining Harris for Australia’s next Test series ahead of the likes of Joe Burns or Usman Khawaja.

The failures of Harris and Warner last night again heaped responsibility on Smith and inexperienced first drop Marnus Labuschagne. The young Queenslander has been a revelation in this series, continually flourishing under enormous pressure and against quality bowling.

Yesterday he again looked good until being undone by a lovely piece of flight by Jack Leach and some razor-sharp keeping from Bairstow. Leach has showed great signs in this series, operating with nice loop and nagging accuracy, and should get a long run in the England side. He deserved his figures of 4-49 last night, while Stuart Broad (4-62) was also excellent.

England and Australia both face major selection issues as they head into their next Test series. England will travel to New Zealand while Australia host Pakistan.

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