The Ashes will remain in Australia’s possession despite being given a major scare by England on a dramatic fifth day at the Adelaide Oval.
England’s Bazballers saved their best performance for the 11th day of a one-sided series, but ultimately fell short by 83 runs in pursuit of a world record run chase of 435.
Australia celebrate after winning the third Test and retaining the Ashes.Credit: Getty Images
Branded the worst Australian team since the 2010-11 Ashes by former England bowler Stuart Broad before the series, Pat Cummins’ side retained the urn in dominant fashion when Scott Boland took the final wicket of Josh Tongue, caught by Marnus Labuschagne at slip.
A hamstring injury to Nathan Lyon, which is likely to rule him out for the rest of the series, caused havoc on Sunday in Adelaide as Australia struggled to take the four wickets required for victory and the Barmy Army dared to dream of a miracle win. Part-timer Travis Head bowled 15 overs in the second innings.
England were valiant, but ultimately, it was for nothing as Australia took a 3-0 series lead ahead of Tests in Melbourne and Sydney where there could be mass changes.
“Bazball is officially dead,” said former Australian batsman Simon Katich on SEN.
Mitchell Starc celebrates after dismissing Will Jacks.Credit: Getty Images
After starting the day on 6-207, still requiring 228 runs for victory, England’s lower order showed the kind of fight they have been searching for all series, with No.7 Jamie Smith (60), No.8 Will Jacks (47) and No.9 Brydon Carse (39 not out) dragging the visitors into a position from where they could have pulled off what would have been arguably the greatest win in Test history.
No side has chased more than 418 to win a Test.
However, Smith rode his luck once too often and skied a Mitchell Starc delivery, bringing a 91-run stand to an end and prompting Ricky Ponting to say “dopey, dopey, dopey” on Channel Seven.
Then it was Marnus Labuschagne taking another screamer in the slips, diving in front of wicketkeeper Alex Carey to remove Jacks with a left-handed blinder and ending a 52-run eighth wicket partnership.
Starc took the penultimate wicket, with Jofra Archer (3) caught by Jake Weatherald at deep point, before Boland wrapped up the victory, dismissing Josh Tongue for one, to bowl England out for 352 in 102.5 overs.
Australia’s players sprinted into the middle for a team hug as the local Adelaide crowd erupted.
Across the past four Ashes series in Australia, the overall scoreline reads 16-0 to the hosts.
More to come
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