GRIT BUT NO GREAT ESCAPE
England’s gutsy last-day stand is not enough to save Ashes dream
THERE was grit, grim determination and application but when the dust settled on a compelling day the onslaught was just too skilful and sustained at Old Trafford as Australia retained the Ashes.
Victory by 185 runs might seem crushing yet was not gifted but wrung out of England’s body by Tim Paine’s men at 6.15pm, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch.
The Aussies crowded in a huddle waiting for confirmation of an lbw against Craig Overton, Steve Smith bouncing nervously like a child unable to contain his energy on one side, Nathan Lyon crouching like a parent all out of his on the other.
When it came their delight was unconfined and understandable given the robbery of Leeds and the long and hard road they have travelled since the balltampering affair in March 2018.
For England this was a chastening defeat for all that they can take short-term solace from the fact they battled so long and so hard to resist.
Setting out two down on 98 overs they kept a crowd believing until the last hour, 13.3 overs from the end.
Yet the longer-term ramifications may be less comfortable with the continued captaincy of Joe Root, who has now failed to win Ashes series both away and at home, high on the agenda.
Much will depend on the reaction at the Oval.
This was a victory built on the brilliance of Smith’s batting, which pivoted on a no ball when he had ‘just’ a century, not a double hundred, and on the superiority of Australia’s fast bowling stocks.
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were getting stronger with each Test while England’s flagging fast bowlers limp towards the finish line in London next week.
For all that England’s rope-a-dope tactic so nearly worked, it left you wondering why such determination has seemed beyond them at other times this series.
Jason Roy and Joe Denly withstood much of the first session without too many problems, inflating hopes in the crowd which was nearly full for a final day.
However, Cummins showed just why he is the No1 Test bowler in the world with two deliveries, bowling Roy through the gate and then getting one to tuck up Ben Stokes who edged behind and walked despite not being given out by Marais Erasmus.
Stokes knew he had hit it and knew it would show up on review.
The loss of England’s talismanic all-rounder, the man who had dragged them over the line single-handedly at Leeds, deflated the crowd but the spine of the side stiffened first around Denly, then Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler.
Denly withstood until just after 2pm, Bairstow until just after 3pm until he was undone by his nemesis Mitchell Starc for the eighth time in 10 Tests.
With Australia circling, Buttler and Overton survived until tea before Buttler somewhat inexplicably shouldered arms to an inswinger delivery from Hazlewood which pegged back his off stump. Jofra Archer lasted eight minutes.
Hazlewood was a handful, getting an old ball reversing wickedly, but if again the crowd’s shoulders slumped, again they were given hope with Overton and Jack Leach stalling Aussie progress for over an hour.
New bats were called for, glasses were cleaned and all the while Australian teeth gritted. The crowd loved every second as the pair ducked and took hits and blocked out.
Leach was eventually chiselled out with an inspired bowling change from Paine who threw the ball to occasional leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne. With his fifth ball he got one to leap out of the footholes. MatthewWade at short leg did the rest.
With 15.1 overs still to go Overton’s resistance was finally broken by another big inswinger from Hazlewood which pinned him in front.
Quite rightly he launched the ultimately futile review, a drum roll for the opposing team’s celebration.