Fifth Investec Ashes
Test, The Oval, London, Aug 20-23, 2015
Australia had already lost the Ashes at Trent
Bridge and Clarke, being plagued with injuries and most importantly, the recent
slump in form announced just after the debacle in Trent Bridge that he will
retire at the end of 5thTest at Oval. Clarke was not the only one to
retire though as Veteran opener Chris Rogers too, was set to retire after the
conclusion of 5th Ashes Test. Clarke who was heavily criticized over
his team selection in the 4th Test, tried to get his team
combinations right this time around as he brought back Mitchell Marsh in place
of his brother Shaun and Workhorse Peter Siddle replaced Hazlewood. Winning
team England made no changes in their side as they put Australia into bat after
winning the toss on a green looking pitch. England seamers were spot on during
first hour of play as Australia just managed 19 runs off 14 overs, but, most
importantly from Australia’s point of view, they didn’t lose a single wicket.
Hard work done during the first hour brought Australian openers some good
fruits as by the time it was lunch on Day 1, Australia had reached 82/0 with
David Warner registering yet another Test match fifty and Rogers unbeaten on
27. Australia’s performance in the first session was impressive taking into
consideration the bowling-friendly conditions and that, certainly calmed down
the nerves within the dressing room, especially after two consecutive dreadful first
innings performances with the bat from the previous two Tests. After lunch,
England got their first success as Wood got rid of Rogers for 43, Cook holding
on to a catch after initial fumble and Australia were 110/1. Smith, who came in
at the fall of Rogers’s wicket was peppered with the balls outside of his
off-stump, but, learning from his previous mistakes, showed great discipline
this time around and brought up a fifty-run partnership alongside David warner.
Moeen Ali brought an end to Warner-Smith partnership, dismissing Warner with a
well-flighted delivery for 85. Warner played extremely well, curbing his
natural instincts at the start of his innings and was utterly disappointed at missing
out on his well-deserved hundred. Skipper Michael Clarke was the next man in
and received a huge standing ovation as he made out his way to bat in his final
Test appearance.
English players appreciating Clarke’s achievements and
greatness, welcomed him to the middle with a guard of honour and it was a
moment for all the cricket fans to cherish. Michael Clarke gave us the glimpses
of his old self as he danced down the wicket to Moeen Ali, hitting back
straight over his head for a wonderful boundary. Australia, at Tea, were 184/2
with Clarke unbeaten on 14. Clarke’s stay at the crease was short lived though as
just after Tea, Stokes got rid of him just for 15 and there was a sense of
disappointment within the Australian contingent of the crowd as they had all gathered
in numbers to see their skipper play well in his final Test. Voges, coming in
at No.5, joined Smith and the duo build a steady partnership. In the meanwhile,
Smith brought up his fifty with a fluent cover drive and at the other end, Voges
too was finding his rhythm, especially after having a disappointing series so
far. By the time the day ended, the partnership of Voges and Smith had already
crossed the 100-run mark as Australia found themselves in a respectable
position at 287/3 with Smith unbeaten on 78.
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| Guard of honour-Clarke walks out to bat in his final Test |
After being in a good position at the end of Day 1, it was important for
Australia to consolidate on Day 2 and Australia did just that as Voges brought
up his fifty and Australia’s tally went past 300. But, after playing so well,
Voges was dismissed for 76, LBW to Stokes just before the drinks break and his
wicket brought an end to 146-run stand between him and Smith. The comeback man
Mitchell Marsh didn’t last long as he departed just for 3, becoming Steven Finn’s
100th Test wicket.
Steve Smith, when on 99, played the ball towards
mid-on and ran hard as he celebrated his 11th Test hundred, 2nd
of the series and 2nd at the same venue. But, he was lucky to get
there as he was out, but to a no-ball earlier in the day and made full
utilization of the reprieve that he got. Moeen Ali spun his web around just at
the stroke of lunch as he got rid of both Nevill and Johnson in space of just 3
deliveries and Australia were reduced to 376/7 going into lunch on Day 2. If
England had a good first session, Australia dominated the afternoon session as
Starc and Smith dictated their terms on English bowlers. Starc, in particular,
played an entertaining brand of cricket as he scored quick fire 58, putting pressure
back on England. Smith too, was in a sort of one-day mode and was eventually
dismissed for fabulous 143. Soon after Smith’s dismissal, Australia’s innings
folded for 481 and England could blame themselves for allowing Australia to
drag their total from 376/7 to 481.
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| Smith acknowledges the crowd after his 11th Test Hundred |
With no Hazlewood
in the side, Starc and Johnson opened the bowling for Australia and England’s
opener Adam Lyth was under immense pressure to score some runs as he had only
managed 86 runs from previous four Tests. Alastair Cook, after a promising start,
departed just at the stroke of Tea for 22, bowled off Lyon by a delivery that
spun sharply and England, at Tea, were 30/1, trailing by mammoth 451 runs. The
post-Tea session turned out to be a disastrous one for England as they lost as
many as 7 wickets.
The workhorse Peter Siddle, the man who was making a
comeback after being on the sidelines for four Tests on the trot, set the tone
with two wickets at the top as he got Lyth just off his second ball and cleaned
up Ian Bell with an absolute beauty to leave England in trouble at 60/3.
England’s man in form Joe Root followed Bell as he departed just for 6 and
England were tottering at 64/4. Bairstow fell to Johnson for 13 and in the very
next over, Lyon bowled Buttler with a classic off-spinner’s delivery as England
found themselves in disarray at 84/6. Ben Stokes played a poor shot, trying to pull
Mitchell Marsh, but, just managed a top-edge and Keeper Nevill did the rest.
Stuart Broad just lasted for four deliveries as England found themselves in a
hopeless position at 107/8 at stumps on day 2.
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| Peter Siddle made the difference |
The 57-run stand for the 9th wicket
between Moeen Ali and Mark Wood turned out to be the highest partnership of the
innings for England as Johnson finally wrapped up the England innings for 149,
dismissing Wood and M Ali off consecutive deliveries and with a lead of over
300 runs and rain forecast predicted on Day 4 and Day 5, Michael Clarke
enforced the follow-on. This was the first instance of Michael Clarke enforcing
the follow-on as he had refrained from doing so on all the previous four
occasions.
England, following on, got off to a poor start as Lyth departed just for
10 and his miserable Ashes series came to an end as he failed on all the 9
occasions. Ian Bell, coming in at No.3, joined Cook and the two senior men had
to really play out of their skin if they were to make Australia bat again. Ian
Bell was nowhere near to his best and was lucky to get a life as Clarke dropped
him at second slip when he was just on 3. However, Ian Bell couldn’t capitalize
on the life presented to him and Clarke himself caught Bell at 2nd
slip off Marsh for 13 and England were reduced to 62/2. In the meanwhile,
Alastair Cook was playing a patient innings as he worked Johnson off his hips
for a single to deep square leg and brought up his 44th Test fifty.
England’s man in form Joe Root was the next man to go as Johnson’s rising
delivery did the trick and was caught down the throat of fine leg for 11 and England
were uncomfortably placed at 99/3, still trailing by 233 runs. Bairstow and
Cook were desperately trying to stitch a partnership, but, managed to add only
41 runs as Bairstow fell to Lyon for 26, Voges taking a wobbling catch at
short-leg. In the very same over, Stokes fell to Lyon as well for a duck and
England were in all sorts of trouble at 140/5. Wicket-keeper batsman Jos
Buttler, who was terribly out of form with the bat joined Cook and Alastair
Cook needed someone to bat along with him if England were to take the game into
Day 4. Jos Buttler, though tentative and not so sure about his technique and
footwork, most importantly managed to stick around and ably supported his
skipper. Just when it looked like Cook and Buttler would see off the day,
Clarke made a brilliant bowling change as he asked Steven Smith to roll his arm
over and bowling change fetched Australia a wicket, a big wicket, that of
England captain Alastair Cook, who played so well for his hard-earned 85.
Australia were delighted to see the back of Cook as his wicket made their life
much simpler going into Day 4. England, at stumps on Day 3, were 203/6, still
129 runs away from making Australia bat again.
Australia, on Day 4, made early inroads as Siddle trapped Mark Wood LBW
for 6 and Marsh got rid of Buttler for 42, Starc taking a low dying catch at
mid-off and Australia were just 2 wickets away from a consolation victory.
Broad joined Moeen Ali and they stitched a partnership, trying to prolong the
inevitable. With England at 258/8, heavy rains came down and umpires took the players
off the field, much to the excitement of English supporters within the crowd.
But, for Clarke, Rogers and most importantly Australia’s sake, rain stopped and
play resumed. Australian players desperately wanted to give their skipper a
happy send-off with a victory and after the rain break, it didn’t take much
long as Siddle finished the clean-up business, taking the wickets of both,
Broad and M Ali as Australia cruised to an innings and 46 runs victory within 4
days. After the Test match was over, it was a moment to savour as Australian
team gave their skipper a guard of honour as he left the field for one final
time. Skipper Clarke and veteran Rogers must have had mixed feelings as they
did manage to win in their farewell Test, but, the Ashes were gone as Australia
failed for the 4th consecutive time on the English soil.
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| England rejoice their Ashes triumph |
SCORES:
AUSTRALIA 481
ENGLAND 149
& 286
AUSTRALIA WON by an
innings & 46 runs.
ENGLAND WIN THE ASHES
3-2.
Player of the Match: S
Smith
Players of the Series:
C Rogers and J Root
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