England wobble to victory in Australia after 15 long years as Jacob Bethell scored 40 in England’s chase of 175.
England wobble but register first Test win in Australia in 15 years.
The MCG raced to the second two-day finish of the Ashes series, giving England’s men a Test victory in Australia for the first time in 19 games and over 15 years. England’s top order aggressively met their target of 175 on a difficult surface that will continue to be scrutinised in the aftermath, and they ultimately managed to get home with four wickets.
There had only been two two-day finishes in Australian history prior to this summer, and it was just the eighth time in Test history that a series had contained multiple two-day finishes. Despite the fact that over 186,000 people attended the game over two unprecedented days, Cricket Australia suffered yet another large financial loss.
Recalled for this game, Jacob Bethell scored 40 to show off his promise, but his dismissal meant that this would be only the fifth Test in Australia without an individual half-century since 1932. With the winning line in sight, Bethell’s wicket was followed by a slight wobble. Ben Stokes carved an edge off Mitchell Starc with ten need and Joe Root was lbw to Jhye Richardson, but four leg byes sealed the victory to thunderous applause from the travelling crowd, albeit with more subdued celebrations from England.
Josh Tongue added two more wickets to his remarkable match total, while Stokes and Brydon Carse split seven wickets. Australia, who had gained a first-innings lead of 42 on the hectic opening day that brought 20 wickets, could only manage 132 the second time around. It indicated that they had recovered from Gus Atkinson’s early-day hamstring injury.
Nevertheless, the goal was unquestionably the match’s greatest total. However, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett’s purpose was evident as they cleaned out 51 in just seven overs. Crawley set the tone by launching Michael Neser down the ground in his opening over, while Duckett pinged Starc through the leg side first ball. Starc came dangerously close to making a return grab off a leading edge and provided some beauties, particularly to Duckett.
However, it is noteworthy that Crawley sent Alex Carey hurtling down the ground for six on the first ball he came up to the stumps against Neser, followed by a scorching drive through the covers. Additionally, Duckett faced Neser, a top-edged hitter who flew to deep third before most stunningly, a scoop going for six. Perhaps there was life in Bazball, after all.
Starc speared a full delivery through Duckett after he hit his fourth boundary behind point, but the openers had changed the tone. Carse was moved up to No. 3 by England, but he sliced down to deep third, giving Bethell the opportunity to play what would turn out to be an important innings.
After getting away with a leading edge on the opening ball, Bethell easily drove Scott Boland down the ground. In the last session, he executed a cover drive after reverse-scoping Boland over Carey. When Boland caught Crawley leg before wicket and had Bethell caught at cover, he conjured up images of another MCG explosion, but Australia didn’t have enough runs to play with.