The Ashes – Fifth Test, Sydney Day 5: Another Aussie win, and another English rethink

Another one sided Ashes series in Australia with the home team winning the entertaining Fifth Test at the SCG , which went well into the second session on the fifth day in front of the best ever crowd for a test match at the SCG over five days of more than 200,000.

 

Australia though had to work for it being set 160 to win and lost five wickets along the way. Another 50 runs by the tourists and who knows they might have successfully defended the total.

 

Then again if your aunty had whiskers, she would be your uncle. There are lots of could haves and would haves, which was probably the theme of the series, but Citrus Bob is giving his eloquent and colorful version of the series in the Almanac, so we can’t wait for that and will no doubt address that. No pressure Bob!!!

 

England had some highlights in this test and going into day five their find of the series, Jacob Bethell was 141 not out after making his first first class century in a test match yesterday.

 

They were 119 runs ahead and no doubt the Barmy Army after another heavy night and in full voice again were hoping that Potts and Bethell could add many more to the score and give Australia a tricky target to chase.

 

England added 40 valuable runs with Bethell out for a brilliant 154. He showed how you should bat all the time in gears unlike many of his team mates, who tended to be in 4^th right throughout the series.

 

Potts also swung lustily and made 18, with Starc the eventual man of the series picking up both and finishing with an outstanding 31 wickets at just under 20.

 

It was a marvellous performance considering he was without three of the fab four that he has been a massive part of for many years, considering Hazlewood didn’t play at all, Lyon only played two and hardly bowled, while Cummins the skipper led the side in Adelaide and bowled well.

 

Starc even today was still hitting the 140km mark pace wise  and still has plenty of cricket left despite turning 36 in 12 days time. He now has 433 wickets and passed the legendary Richard Hadlee’s tally of 431 in this test and is one away from Indian superstar, Kapil Dev.

 

As today was my 57^th birthday and my body is feeling all those years and more, I was looking forward  to a competitive run chase, with England pushing Australia. However, I am sure another birthday boy, Josh Hazlewood would have been hoping for Australia to get the runs comfortably.

 

Australia lost five wickets and were in a hurry, with Head again trying to hit everything out of the ground or to the boundary but not connecting as much as Carse again tried his back side off in opening the attack but was again a bit short.

 

Weatherald, who needed a decent score, to still, in my opinion be in the mix to  continue his test career after a run of outs, looked more assured  hitting fours with his favoured square cut.

 

He has been unlucky with the referrals, but today was fortunate when it seemed he might have feathered one through to Smith off Carse, but Stokes for some strange reason a lot less definite than Steve Smith with his decisions to refer waited until the time had ticked down.

 

The TV umpire  Raza took a long time to make his decision, which made this birthday boy frustrated as I reckon he was looking for something that was there but Snicko seemed to show a slither, but Umpire Raza wasn’t 100 percent sure and Weatherald survived and continued to cash in.

 

Carse though was furious the decision did not go his way and confronted the umpire, but Stokes rightfully so dragged him away, but Carse kept at it and approached Weatherald, which added to the theatre.

 

Carse might lack some ability but you can’t criticize his effort or heart.

 

Head eventually gave his wicket away top edging to mid wicket but he and Weatherald had exceeded 50 as an opening pair for the 4^th time to give Australia a great start.

 

Weatherald’s weaknesses again exposed right on the lunch break getting a short one from England’s best bowler in the series Tongue and again he was in two minds trying to avoid it but it caught the top of the bat and flew down to fine leg where Potts took a great diving catch.

 

England seemed to be much better at taking the harder catches than the easier ones and Australia went to lunch with Weatherald leaving Labuschange in his wake as he made his way to the pavilion, very disappointed that his series and maybe test career was already over.

 

Australia was 2 for 70 at lunch and with the pitch taking spin, but neither side had a recognized spinner, although Webster who reverted to his off spin took three yesterday to show that he could be a threat on a wicket that does favour spin, Jacks proved that he and spin could still play a role by bowling Smith for just 12 after lunch to maybe open the door slightly for a memorable win.

 

Smudge’s exit saw Khawaja enter the test arena for the last time to a standing ovation, but he was on his way back very shortly playing on for six and the cheers were even louder as the 39 year old acknowledged every portion of the crowd and then kissed the turf.

 

His views on life at times have been criticized, but opinions are like backsides and we all have one, but he has been a fine test player and got better in his mid to late 30s.

 

Carey joined Labuschange, who was dropped by Bethell, who probably should have hung on like many of the 17 catches they have dropped in this series and then Marnus decided he was keen on what Travis Head was organizing for the celebrations and wanted to start as soon as possible.

 

They no doubt would be epic after Adelaide and Labuschange took advantage of that life with three consecutive boundaries.

 

However, he ran himself out and was clearly cooked despite the run out being referred upstairs, but Marnus knew and he was performing his usual  histironics on the ground shattered with his gloves, bat and helmet on the ground. All of these antics of Marnus drive me mad, but he will never change, so Daniel get over it!

 

He was out by the length of the Flemington straight and England stayed alive, but Cam Green an underwhelming performer in the series and Carey a star, with a century and an amazing 28 dismissals as a keeper got Australia home by 5 wickets.

 

England was gallant, but again did not win enough of the big moments in this test match. Their opening bowlers, except for Tongue, were wayward again defending a small total and it didn’t help that Stokes, lion-hearted with the ball all summer, was injured. Their fielding was inconsistent and too many batters didn’t learn except for young Bethell, and Root as usual played some great innings.

 

I know McCullum and co in the English coaching ranks would praise their efforts in making 300 in both innings but you can’t be happy conceding a monstrous 567, although I get the impression the bowlers would have got pats on the backs for sticking at it, instead of looking how to be better.

 

In the end Australia like the other tests played much better, but how good was it to get a five day test? 

 

I also believe it shaded Adelaide as the best of the series.

 

 

ESPN Cricinfo Scorecard

 

Read more reports on the Ashes series HERE.

 

 

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