Who says cricket is boring? Aussies win a thriller!
Ashes Day 5: Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Ashes Day 5: Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Tuesday 20th June 2023
Australia 282–8 (win by 2 wickets)
After waxing lyrical in yesterday’s diary entry on the majestic bowling skills of Australian captain Pat Cummins I had a hunch he’d feature heavily today, but not to match winning excess and an unbeaten 55 run partnership with his off spin bowler Nathan Lyon. Thrust together at 227–8 as this Test Match took yet another turn as the balance of probable victor swung back in favour of the hosts England, Cummins had a cricketing “life” when on just 7 with Joe Root dropping an incredibly difficult “caught and bowled” chance and straight after the final break for drinks in the entire match, set about a quick chasing down of the remaining 51 runs for victory. Boundary 6’s and 4’s kicked Joe Root from England’s threadbare bowling attack and suddenly 51 to win became 37 in the blink of an eye. With Lyon chipping in with an invaluable 16 not out, his captain continued to whittle down the required runs to win to 30, to 20 and then into single figures and remarkably, after near on five days and two elongated breaks for adverse weather, all four cricketing results were still possible. Cummins’ guided “dab” to the boundary was scrambled and fumbled over the rope for the match winning 4 runs needed, and the Australian wheeled away in delight at his team’s achievement, ripping away his batting helmet and throwing his bat into the air before grabbing his loyal off spinning mate and hoisting him high to an Edgbaston sky.
Perceived wisdom has it that England had largely dominated this Test Match and adjudged to be in a winning position throughout the prior four days here, but that’s as incorrect as continually harping on about the wisdom of declaring their 1st innings. These very same people were excitedly saying throughout yesterday that England captain Ben Stokes could, should or might declare his team’s 2nd innings too, but thus is the fickle fate of having an opinion, and such opinions are often shaped by the tension and emotion of the moment. This incredible Test Match has shifted constantly with the sands of time and every time a team has seeming control of the destiny of the match, their opposition has retorted with a gutsy innings (see Usman Khawaja yet again today and especially his captain Pat Cummins) or the never say die spirit in the bowling exploits of Stuart Broad or his captain Ben Stokes.
I’ve had Australia slightly in front of the game since the end of Day 2 and even in spite of their overnight position last evening and still needing 174 runs to win with only 7 wickets remaining. In line with the match as a whole, I still had the Aussies as favourites at the Tea Break even after the loss of the priceless wicket of Travis Head and still needing 98 runs to win with now only 5 wickets remaining. Then came the twist in favour of England once more as Stokes finally dismissed Usman Khawaja (who’s batted on every day of this Test Match) before Joe Root brilliantly snaffled a bullet of a return catch from Alex Carey. With 54 runs still needed and only Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood to assist him, the Aussie skipper wrestled back control of the match straight after the drinks break and the countdown to ultimate victory had begun, and a victory that could prove incredibly vital come 6 weeks time and the end of an Ashes series that is already bubbling with astounding sporting drama.
Usman Khawaja was named “Man of the Match” and rightly so but his captain pushed him hard to this individual accolade. Pat Cummins’ 4 wickets for 63 runs in England’s 2nd innings was high class from the number one rated bowler in the world and quite frankly and indeed quite rightly, his 44 not out this evening will be remembered forever more and his hoisting of Nathan Lyon high in the air an Ashes image for the ages. Immediately post-match, Cummins heaped praise on his team as a whole, Usman Khawaja in particular and called Nathan Lyon both a “superstar” and a “captain’s dream” and the magnificent team he leads looks a well oiled and well drilled outfit that will take a precious 1–0 series advantage to Lord’s in 8 days time.
“Ashes to Ashes”
Out Now! Hot off the Press!medium.com
So what of those English cricketing revolutionaries and their captain Ben Stokes. Post match he was reasoned and magnanimous in defeat in a match that will “never be forgotten” and which epitomised the style of play he wants his team to play and the sport he holds so dear to his heart. Rightly, he defended his decision to declare at the end of day 1 (“it was an opportunity to pounce on Australia”) as well as being honest enough to praise both a victorious Australia who “stuck in” throughout the match and his players who gave their all only to come up agonisingly short.
The cold hard and ugly truths are that England had a somewhat threadbare bowling attack at times and without the variation in pace and hostility from Mark Wood they were always going to struggle to bowl out Australia twice to force a win. Jimmy Anderson (may the cricketing Gods bless him) looks undercooked after recovering from a niggling injury and Moeen Ali’s injured spinning finger largely negated any influence he could have despite heeding the 11th hour call to replace the unfortunate Jack Leach. Joe Root bowled brilliantly in an emergency once more and Stuart Broad has bowled himself to utter “exhaustion” according to his captain post-match. England (and arguably both teams) were always going to have to rotate their bowling attacks but the hosts would appear to have to do so in 8 days time as Broad can’t play every match, Anderson has admitted he’s out of rhythm after running from injury and one can only assume that Moeen Ali, a replacement himself, will have to be replaced come the Lord’s Test Match.
It’s advantage Australia, but this Ashes series is already living up to the hype and expectation we cricket fans have excitedly heaped upon this fiercest of sporting tussles. The revolution underway within English cricket, and the sport as a whole, has not been lost today and neither has the Ashes.
The clash of styles returns in earnest in 8 days time and I for one cannot wait.
“The Uno Ashes”
Dad 5 (8)
Lad 4 (13)
Much to the grumpy consternation of my son (he’d make a wonderful “Captain Grumpy” of a cricket team!), I won the first session in today’s tussle by 4 games to 1 before he rallied, taking a tense game 6 after we were both tied at 95 points each and 5 points short of a victory to reduce the day’s score line to 4–2, then 4–3 before we shared 2 final games during the nerve shredding final moments of the day’s play in the cricket. He now holds a 5 game aggregate lead over the series as a whole and I, like England, will be gunning for my opposition come 8 days time.
Vive la revolution!
Thanks for reading. If this isn’t enough Test Match cricket for you, please see my daily re-caps of days 1 through 4 below:
Root century but it’s honours even after Day 1 at Edgbaston
Ashes Day 1: Edgbaston, Birmingham.medium.com
Khawaja century edges Aussies ahead in 1st Ashes Test
Ashes Day 2: Edgbaston, Birmingham.medium.com
Aussies on top as the storm clouds gather in Birmingham
Ashes Day 3: Edgbaston, Birmingham.medium.com
1st Test on a knife edge as Broad gives England real hope
Ashes Day 4: Edgbaston, Birmingham.medium.com