The Ashes – Fifth Test, Sydney Day 5: The Final Test
Sydney Day 5
AUSTRALIA TAKE SERIES 4 – 1
With only two wickets in hand it was always going to be difficult for England to have high hopes for a lead big enough to have a chance of winning the final test.
While JG Bethell was there the Barmy Army were still full of hope.
This did not happen as Bethell (154) was the first to fall caught behind off Starc.
The young tyro received a marvellous applause after this, his maiden Test century. Those people in attendance yesterday and today have seen a future star of the game and possible English captain born in Barbados the home of many cricket champions. I don’t use the word ‘champion’ lightly in this case.
Potts and Tongue hung around to take the lead to 159 before Starc took wicket 31 for the series, The highest since Mitchell Johnson’s terrifying 37 wickets in 2013-14.
159 could prove an interesting target particularly with Australia’s past chasing small targets.
The Australian openers, as they have been for the whole series, were in a hurry. Head and Weatherald were playing shots against bowlers who were not getting much from the pitch.
Mind you this has been an excellent pitch for the batters. The bowlers at times struggled but there was still something there for them.
Head, one of the stars of the series, tried to hit Tongue out of the ground and only managed to find Carse in position for an easy catch. Right on lunch Weatherald tried to fend Tongue but only managed to sky to fine leg where Potts dived for a fine take.
This could have been a fatal shot by Weatherald as except for a 72 in the second inning in Perth he has not set the world on fire. Who knows what the future holds for Australia’s batting line-up though.
At lunch Australia at 2/71 still had work to do. This was further emphasised when Jacks, the most maligned trundler ever, bowled the ball of the series to Smith (12) jagging one between body and bat to take the Aussie skipper. Australia 3/92 It was a ripper ball!
Usman Khawaja in his last dance for Australia, received a magnificent and admiring applause from the crowd. He then walked through an English guard of honour and the umpires.
I wonder if he ‘did a Bradman’ and although he got to 6 I am sure he still had a tear in his eye when he dragged Tongue back on to his wicket. His slow walk back with a kiss to heaven and Mecca ended a career that had everything and certainly has driven Australian cricket into a new image of life and sport.
The first Muslim to represent his adopted country he had not let his religion down and only enhanced it with his courage over the years.
When Marnus (37) ran himself out and the score at 4/121 the Englanders and their ever faithful crowd still thought there was a chance to take the game. There was turn in the wicket now as both Jacks and Root found out.
Unfortunately for them there were not another runs to play with and Green (22) and Carey (16) steered Australia home to a five wicket victory and a series win of four matches to one.
Player of the match : Travis Head
Player of the series: Mitchell Starc
211,032 people turned out to watch the Test match beating the previous record of set in 1946 -47 when England toured for the first time since World War II. This was the Test where Bradman and Barnes both made 234.
859, 580 cricket fans attended the whole series which would have been over one million if the ill-fated Test matches in Perth and Melbourne had gone for more than two days each respectively.
Personal thanks to Dan Lonergan, Doctor Heather Lee, John Butler, Russel Hansen and the administration for contributing to a well-documented Test series and of course the replies by our ever reliable ‘knackers’ throughout with their thoughtful comments.
Read more reports on the Ashes series HERE.
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
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About Bob Utber
At 86 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
A great ‘wrap’ Citrus, thank you
I think your line “Who knows what the future holds for Australia’s batting line-up though” is very, very accurate – as evidenced by the run chase yesterday
Enjoyed many aspects of the Sydney test, including: JG Bethell (& his Dad!), Beau Webster’s contribution, the ABC radio coverage, and being a part of your writing roster
take care
Rabbit in the Vineyard
RABBIT – a great pleasure to have you on board RITV! I,m now going to turn it into a diary. People don’t write books on series anymore and being a bit old-fashion I DO!!
I see where Matt Renshaw has been added to a squad. Think they will stick with the Head Weatherald combo and like you only listen to ABC. Boof made a great comment on Weatherald yesterday about his stance and movement which would be right up your alley. A couple of young blokes waiting in the wings who should be blooded against Bangladesh – Peake and Connelly.
I will let you know when the diary comes out and maybe we can launch it from the Governor’s seat at St.Peters during “gather round”
4 – 1 is a great result, Citrus.
Thanks for your reporting during the series.
Well done Citrus covering the series.
I’m convinced hubris played a massive part in the English demise. Exhibit A – H Brook.
They didn’t rate Nesser, Boland and Doggett.
Bazball haunted them. What a nonsense.
I’ve just finished reading “Bomber”, the Mark “Bomber”
Thompson story. He was big on players respecting the game when he coached. BazBall only respected egos. Poms deserved all they got.
Stokes will have sore neck muscles – spent the whole summer shaking his head.
But Bethell was a revelation. Will be good to watch. Reminded me of a left handed Martin Crowe when batting.
On we go.
SMOKIE – as they say “it was a team effort with two new chums Dan and Heather on board to compliment the rest of the team. Yes, 4 -1 probably the right result when you look back and Oz were never at full strength but what a job the bowlers did. The same old story for us Vics – how will Scotty stay in the team when the NSW boys come back? he complimented Starc superbly.
DIPS – interesting point on respect for the game. Only Old Joe and the Viking in my opinion had respect for the game (only pre Bazballers?). Thanks heavens for the Barbadian Bethell!
I did feel for Stokes and I watched him closely in the field. gave it his all with little help. This is the last we will se of BazBall until the next time – not very soon.
If we have an “old team” now what will it be like next summer with Smith, Starc,Head, Boland et al still playing great cricket. Hope they blood some youngsters against Bangladesh
Weatherald and Head opening partnerships
75
77 ( Head 1st wicket to fall )
37 ( Head 1st wicket to fall )
33
8
27 ( Head 1st wicket to fall )
57
62 ( Head 1st wicket to fall )
Of course Jake would be disappointed with his figures overall but far far more successful than he is being given credit for
Vital partnership in Perth and had a fantastic game in Brisbane played a vital role in us winning the ashes
Fair point RB.
What are the $1m per annum batting coaches doing?
Dips agreed I admit don’t know where Jake crouching down has come from I’m sure I will chat about it with him at some stage I admit I’m biased re Jakey boy
Overall batting obviously particularly England was horrendous let’s remember-Adelaide and Sydney were bordering on roads bit of g and d draw those marches
Great test days reads Bob, with the usual nuances. Just like being there. If bazball died early in the series, young JB buried it with a forceful but very patient 154 off 265 and S/R 58. Should have played a spinner in Sydney. Despite the record prefer Head at first drop. Webster over Green. Need to inject young blood. Connelly is scorching in the West. Kudos to Stokes who bust his boiler.
Well played Citrus and Co, thanks for providing us with your daily updates.
Both sides finished the series with a number of outstanding issues, but Australia’s bowling depth proved to be a key difference imo; only three of our batters could be relied upon.
Weatherald now needs some Shield runs, if not then I’d be looking to give someone younger a go.
Thanks for to you and your team for your colourful reporting over the series, CB. Despite Adelaide and Sydney resembling Test cricket and the summer being punctuated with some great individual performances, I’m left with a disquieting unease about the Australian team and Test cricket itself in this country. What will both sides look like for the 2027 Ashes?
MICKEY – Now for 12 months of cricket bliss! Who will represent Oz & Pom in 2027. We had a great team on board with their very own thoughts on the game. Marvellous (RB)
DIPS & RULE – I take your point but Jake W needs to keep piling up runs to convince selectors “he’s the man” Just read a combined Ashes team that has many Poms as Aussies – says something about the series and I mean “minus” not “plusses”
GRAEBOY – Agree with your comments and especially Stokes who must have been disgusted with his team. Connolly and Peake need to play against Bangladesh.
SWISH – our knacker team were exemplary over the series. Can’t say that for the Ashes mobs! They certainly weren’t teams. There will be changes in the batting surely for Australia. As for the Poms who knows what will happen there. Perhaps they need to play in Pakistan and know where else – no alcohol there.
CHAPS – Many thanks on behalf of The Knacker XI . I think we gave many and varied accounts of the Test matches. It was a hard task as many of the day’s were quite forgettable. Thanks for your comments as well which made us all think more about the game.
Weatherald and Green did become whipping boys but they will need to build up their stats for the remainder of the shield season , if they play.
Wow! who will play for both teams in the next Ashes which starts 2027 in March at the G? Think that needs a whole story and I will get the team involved