On the day Bazball was officially laid to rest at the Adelaide Oval, after a tense and fluctuating 11th day of this Ashes series, Australia’s victorious cricketers pulled on fresh white T-shirts handed out in the dressing rooms by hometown hero and party starter Travis Head.
Across the front, in big red lettering, was the word ‘Ronball’, accompanied by a cartoon of Australia’s beloved coach Andrew “Ronald” McDonald.
The term first emerged publicly in Adelaide during Australia’s Test against the West Indies in 2022, when a piece of paper bearing the word ‘Ronball’ was spotted in the home team’s viewing area.
It was a not-so-subtle dig at Bazball, England’s aggressive brand of cricket named after their coach Brendon McCullum – and which the New Zealander has repeatedly said he despises.
Three years on, having already retained the Ashes in England in 2023, this victory was mighty sweet.
Sweeter still, captain Pat Cummins said, because of how hard Australia had to work for the final four wickets on day five as England mounted a late charge that briefly threatened to rival Ben Stokes’ Headingley miracle of 2019.
“Even when they’re nine down, you’re like, ‘Oh, we still haven’t got the 10th yet’,” Cummins said. “When you take that 10th wicket, it’s just like, ‘All right, we’re done’.”
When Cummins ran back to take a clutch catch to remove danger man Jamie Smith, television cameras caught his wife Becky in the background, left arm outstretched in celebration, while holding their young son Albie in the Adelaide Oval stands.
Moments after Scott Boland claimed the final wicket of Josh Tongue, Cummins gave Nathan Lyon a bear hug, acutely aware of the frustration the injured spinner would have felt – even if he would never show it – at being unable to be part of the onfield huddle.
“Everyone’s pretty pumped up in there,” Cummins said at his press conference, having lost half a can of beer during an impromptu kid’s cricket game on the field after play.
As Alex Carey was named man of the match, the contrast between the winning and losing teams was stark. McCullum stood near the boundary with a BBC microphone under his chin. Metres away, a procession of English cricket writers marched towards him, laptops under arms and hard questions at the ready after a campaign that has unravelled in spectacular fashion.
Ben Stoked is interviewed after the defeat in Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images
Earlier on day five, with momentum building, the Barmy Army had belted out Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer.
“Ohhhhhh, we’re halfway there …”
Even as hope faded, they followed up with Elton John’s I’m Still Standing.
The Barmy Army in action. Credit: Getty Images
Joe Root, who has more catches in Test cricket than any player, jokingly inspected Marnus Labuschagne’s palm as they shook hands after play – perhaps checking for superglue, so good has the Australian’s catching been throughout the series.
Cricketing royalty flooded into the Australian change rooms after an open invitation from Cummins on the morning of day five.
In came Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and others, all bound by a shared appreciation of thumping England.
Jake Weatherald and Steve Smith celebrate Australia’s Ashes win. Credit: Getty Images
Stokes was generous in crediting Australia’s execution and relentlessness. But when asked where this Australian side ranked among the great Ashes teams he had faced, his glare said it all.
“They’ve been better than us,” Stokes said.
The question was reframed. Stokes was in no mood to inflate the praise.
“They’ve been better than us,” he repeated.
While two Tests remain, the damage has been done. Australia will be without Cummins and Lyon in Melbourne – and perhaps Head for a few days of training, depending on how long the celebrations last – but a whitewash remains elusive for this group, which had to settle for 4-0 series victories in 2017-18 and 2021-22.
“We’re going to Melbourne absolutely desperate to win that one. And Sydney too,” Cummins said. “If you get 5-0, it’ll be amazing.”
As the afternoon wore on, Australia’s players and staff drifted to the western side of the Adelaide Oval. Despite a short five-day break before the fourth Test, celebrations were unavoidable.
Head, the designated social coordinator, delivered once more – still in a ‘Ronball’ shirt – producing jugs of his ‘Headliner Spritz’; an apple and watermelon gin cocktail.
Australian players and staff at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Credit: Instagram
McDonald had a pink cocktail in hand, but refrained from donning a Ronball shirt. His style has always been understated.
At 5.58pm local time, players and coaches returned to the field. Lyon ditched his crutches, standing in a team circle, weight gingerly on his right leg.
Carey, the team’s songmaster, played True Blue on a portable speaker, an echo of the live performance by John Williamson before day one in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack.
The wicketkeeper kissed the turf, a nod to Head’s celebration after making a century here two days ago, as Cummins and Labuschagne sprayed beer and cocktails across Head’s Ronball shirt.
Then they all came together, after doing what they had said they would do.
Under the Southern Cross I stand,
A sprig of wattle in my hand,
A native of my native land,
Australia, you f—ing beauty.
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