Ashes REAL
CONGRATULATIONS AUSTRALIA
retaining the Ashes
long may it continue
hope, for a global change of venue,for the future series
share the sport,not selfishly indulge
| Cricket
Cricket: Australia retain Ashes with fourth test victory
9 Sep, 2019 5:16am
6 minutes to read
Steve Smith celebrates after Australia secured the Ashes with a fourth test win over England. Photo / AP
news.com.au
By: James Matthey of news.com.au
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"It was always one I wanted to tick off my bucket list to get the urn over here … to know that's coming home is extremely satisfying."
An elated Paine told the BBC: "I didn't think it would be this emotional. The amount of work that's gone into retaining the Ashes has been enormous and I'm really proud of this group and how we bounced back from Headingley."
Most expected the tourists to stroll to victory on day five but as we saw in Leeds anything can happen in cricket, and the nerves would have been churning when Australia went to tea still needing four more wickets after England showed plenty of fight earlier in the day.
The final session was full of drama as Josh Hazlewood delivered an absolute beauty straight after the break that seamed back a mile and hit Jos Buttler's off stump when he shouldered arms and next over Nathan Lyon trapped Jofra Archer LBW for a single.
That came after Archer narrowly avoided accidentally kicking the ball onto his own stumps and the thrills continued when Craig Overton survived a desperately close LBW shout when Hazlewood's toe crusher was shown to just be missing leg stump.
With the Aussies needing two wickets to win, Overton and Jack Leach revived memories of Cardiff in 2009, when Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar blocked things out for an incredible draw. The pair stood firm and even after taking the second new ball Australia still couldn't break the partnership and fears bad light might stop play started creeping into Australian supporters' heads.
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Stalling tactics came out too. Leach was wiping his glasses and Overton called for a new bat then took his time shaking off a blow to the body as they tried every trick in the book to take time out of the game.
The noise coming from the western stand – the unofficial party stand at Old Trafford – was deafening as the punters willed England to hold on.
Tim Paine's next move was a shock that proved to be a stroke of genius as he brought part-time leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne into the attack with 16 overs left in the day. He ripped a ball into Jack Leach from the footmarks outside off stump and it caught Leach's glove and popped up to a close-in fielder.
Hazlewood then trapped Overton LBW for 21 with 81 balls left in the day and the match was over, sparking jubilant scenes of celebration from the Aussies.
England started day five at 2/18 needing to do one of two things to send the series to a decider in London later this week. It either needed to chase down the 383 runs needed for victory – a feat that was always going to prove nearly impossible – or survive until stumps on a wearing wicket.
Cricket: Australia retain Ashes with fourth test victory