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Ashes 2019: England win 5th Test to draw the series despite Matthew Wade ton

With the Ashes retained, there were mixed feelings after England squared the series.

Peter Lalor and Tom Crystal
14 min read
7:11AMSeptember 16, 2019.
Updated 11:40AMSeptember 16, 2019
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England’s players celebrate their fifth-Test win at The Oval. Picture: Getty Images
England’s players celebrate their fifth-Test win at The Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Australia vs England, 5th Ashes Test at The Oval. England have won by 135 runs to level the series at 2-2.

6.30am: What I would’ve done differently: Paine

With the celebration of winning the Ashes done after the fourth Test, there were mixed feelings after England rose in the fifth to square the series. As Tim Paine said, it’s a bit too close to a loss to feel good about a series, but if you’d been told before the series the urn would stay where it is, you would have taken it.

And, when you put it in context after the 18 months Australian cricket has had a 2-2 scoreline in a country where they have not won a series for 18 years is a fair achievement.

Matthew Wade scored a century on the last day, but his was a lone hand and the Australians lost, as it had seemed they would from early in the match, but 135 runs.

Steve Smith was, finally, greeted with warm applause when his innings ended and later when he was given the Compton-Miller award for player of the series. He scored 774 at an average of 110 but saved the worst for last, out for 23 — his lowest score by the length of the straight.

Australia's captain Tim Paine holds the Ashes Urn as the players celebrate victory after the presentation ceremony on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test match at The Oval.
Australia's captain Tim Paine holds the Ashes Urn as the players celebrate victory after the presentation ceremony on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test match at The Oval.

“Taking the urn home was what we came here to do,” Paine said. “We’re thrilled by that. This game puts a bit of a dampener on it. But overall if you said we would be taking them home we would have jumped at that.

“I think so but it’s a bit close to a loss to be absolutely thrilled with what’s happened, but when you put in perspective what we have done as a group and if you had said we would retain the Ashes I think we would have taken it. Most Australians would have. I think we can be very proud to have come here which is a challenging place for Australians to come and play and win two Tests pretty convincingly and should have won a third that we let slip. But we have done a lot right and can be proud of.”

Paine admits if he got his time again he would not have sent England in at the toss.

Smith, looked satisfied and exhausted by his own efforts. “It was a nice reception when I walked off, would have been nice to have a few more runs under my belt,” he said. “I have given it my all while I have been here for the last four-and-a-half months but I didn’t have much more to give today. I was pretty cooked mentally and physically and I am looking forward to a couple of weeks off and heading back for the Australian summer.”

Steve Smith celebrates with the Ashes Urn after Australian drew the series to retain the Ashes during day four of the 5th Ashes Test at The Oval.
Steve Smith celebrates with the Ashes Urn after Australian drew the series to retain the Ashes during day four of the 5th Ashes Test at The Oval.

It is hard to give Smith’s achievements context. In his first Test after a 12 month ban he scored a pair of 140s to win the game for Australia and nominated the first innings of that match as the one he was most satisfied with even though he went on to make a double century at Old Trafford.

“I am proud of my performances over the three-and-a-half Test matches I have played here and to take the urn back home. That was the goal and I am proud I was able to play some part in that,” he said. “The first innings was my favourite innings of the whole series. First Test is always important in an Ashes series and to pull the team out of trouble and the time and gave me the confidence to know I could slot straight back in and perform. It’s was a long 18 months and I have a lot of people to thank.”

Paine said he thought Edgbaston was critical for the team. “There was so much talk of it being a fortress and how difficult it was going to be for us to start the series,” he said. “So for us to win that Test quite convincingly gave us the belief that we could do it and gave us a taste of how we wanted to play over here would work. To get that confirmation so early in the series and made it easier for the guys to stick with what we wanted to do.”

With only Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade having any success with the bat, it is obvious the team is not yet fully established.

England's Joe Root, left, and Australia's Tim Paine hold the trophy during the presentation ceremony at The Oval.
England's Joe Root, left, and Australia's Tim Paine hold the trophy during the presentation ceremony at The Oval.

“Every team needs to keep improving,” Paine said. “Steve is the best player in the world and he is still improving. The moment we stop thinking we need to improve there is something wrong. As a whole series we had a whole heap of good moments in a a country where Australia hasn’t had a lot of success for a long time. We can be proud of that but have to go.

“Steve had a great series and won a couple of Test by himself but we’ve got a couple of parts that we need to improve. But if we can click them into gear when he is at the height of his powers and with the pace attack we have got in the next few years we are going to be a hard team to beat.”

4am: England win earns rare drawn series

That’s it. England have drawn the series after winning the fifth Test at The Oval.

Australia were all out for 263 after 6pm on day four, Tim Paine’s men falling 135 runs short of the total needed to win the series.

Matthew Wade’s defiant 117 was a lone hand as none of his team mates, including Steve Smith, managed more than 25 in what was an essentially disappointing finish after they had retained the Ashes at Old Trafford.

Stuart Broad (4-62) and Jack Leach (4-49) were the pick of the bowlers.

Joe Root takes the wicket of Matthew Wade. Picture: Getty Images
Joe Root takes the wicket of Matthew Wade. Picture: Getty Images

Jofra Archer and Wade engaged in a number of hostile exchanges but the quick finished the innings without a wicket.

Australia arrived hoping to be the first team in 18 years to win a series in England but will have to be content with being the first outfit to retain the trophy in that period.

Smith’s 774 runs at 110.57 was the standout performance, the next best performed batsman was Ben Stokes with 441 at 55.2 from three extra innings.

Jofra Archer eyeballs Matthew Wade during a fiery spell on day four. Picture: Getty Images
Jofra Archer eyeballs Matthew Wade during a fiery spell on day four. Picture: Getty Images

Pat Cummins was the series leading wicket taker with 29 at 19.62, ahead of Broad who took 23 at 26.65.

Australia’s bold decision to bowl first backfired when neither bowlers nor fielders made the most of conditions.

Wade reaches his century. Picture: Getty Images
Wade reaches his century. Picture: Getty Images

Match blog below — how day four unfolded:

3.10am: England win!

Spinner Jack Leach finishes it quickly with two wickets in two balls. Josh Hazlewood clips a full delivery to midwicket where Joe Root takes a brilliant diving catch. England have won by 135 runs to square the series at 2-2.

3.09am: WICKET!

Nathan Lyon sweeps Jack Leach straight to skipper Joe Root just in front of square leg. Not long now.

3am: WICKET!

It’s the big one: Matthew Wade (117). He’s down the pitch to Joe Root but is beaten by the spin and Jonny Bairstow completes an easy stumping. A fantastic effort from the batsman, in what will be a losing effort. England edge closer to a series-levelling win.

2.50am: Wicket overturned!

It looks like Matthew Wade’s fine innings is over, after a catch by Ben Stokes at slip off Joe Root’s bowling. Wade doesn’t seem to know if he’s hit it or not and asks DRS to intervene. He hasn’t hit it — the ball has turned sharply out of the rough.Bat on, Mr Wade.

2.43am: WICKET!

Pat Cummins (nine)feathers a Stuart Broad delivery through to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. Umpire Marais Erasmus raises the finger but Cummins isn’t so sure. He’s tempted to use Australia’s final review but decides against it. UltraEdge shows he’s nicked it. England three wickets from victory.

Matthew Wade raises his bat as he leaves the ground after being dismissed for 117. Picture: Getty Images
Matthew Wade raises his bat as he leaves the ground after being dismissed for 117. Picture: Getty Images

2.35am: Century to Wade!

A brilliant, gritty knock from the left-hander is capped by a fourth Test ton and second of the series. It’s taken 147 deliveries, with 15 boundaries and one six. Wade had to battle a hostile spell from Jofra Archer, during which he wore a few on body that will leave some colourful bruises.

2.15am: Final burst

An hour to go, or a minimum 18 overs if the light holds up. Pat Cummins is defending doggedly as Matthew Wade (97) closes in on what would be a brave century. Jofra Archer’s latest spell ends after eight overs and Stuart Broad is brought back on. Joe Root gets another bowl.

2am: The heat is on

Jofra Archer fires in a 153km/h thunderbolt at Matthew Wade — the new quickest ball of the series. Wade (88) drives beautifully to the cover boundary, and the following ball smacks into the batsman’s shoulder. That has to hurt but the left-hander doesn’t flinch. Great stuff!

1.50am: Tempers flare

Just quietly, Jofra Archer seems pretty cranky with Matthew Wade. He’s peppering his former Hobart Hurricanes team-mate with short balls, dishing up some verbal and throwing in the mean glare. Wade doesn’t seem too worried but Archer follows up with a 148km/h delivery — the quickest ball of the series according to Sky Sports commentator Nasser Hussain.

Matthew Wade faces off with Jofra Archer. Picture: AFP
Matthew Wade faces off with Jofra Archer. Picture: AFP

1.40am: WICKET!

Tim Paine is hit on the pad as he fails to offer a shot at a Jack Leach delivery from around the wicket. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena takes an age but finally raises the finger. Paine ends his involvement with, fittingly, a failed DRS review. Australia are 6-200, Matthew Wade has battled his way to 78.

1.10am: Final session underway

Jack Leach is operating in tandem with Jofra Archer after the tea break. Archer hits Wade on the pads and despite the ball looking like it’s sliding down leg, Joe Root challenges the umpire’s not out decision. It’s comfortably missing leg and England have burned both their reviews. Touch of Tim Paine about Root’s DRS use today.

12.50am: Long road ahead

Australia are 5-167 at tea on day four and need another 232 runs to win the match. With Steve Smith gone it seems implausible. The world’s best batsman fell to a mundane leg-gully trap set for him to the bowling of Stuart Broad after lunch. It took a good catch from Ben Stokes, but it was not much of a shot and 23 was by far his lowest score in a series where he scored 774 runs at an average of 110.

Matthew Wade is 60no and becomes the only Australian batsman, aside from Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, to pass 50 on more than one occasion. Smith did it in six of his seven innings, Labuschagne four times in as many. Tim Paine is batting with Wade and is 10no.

Tim Paine and Ben Stokes exchange words at tea on day four. Picture: Getty Images
Tim Paine and Ben Stokes exchange words at tea on day four. Picture: Getty Images

12.42am: Tea

Matthew Wade survives a close call just before the break when a lofted shot to mid-wicket, off the bowling of Jack Leach, falls barely short of Sam Curran. England though they had Australia’s last hope there. Wade has 60, Tim Paine 10 and Australia are 5-167.

12.25am: WICKET!

Part-timer Joe Root gets the breakthrough, as Mitchell Marsh prods the orthodox leggie straight to Jos Buttler at short leg. Marsh exits for 24 and a promising 63-run stand ends.

12.17am: 50 to Wade!

The feisty Tasmanian sweeps Joe Root behind square to bring up his fifth Test half-century and second of the series — he converted the first into a ton, in the opening Test. Wade has looked relatively comfortable so far in his 65-ball knock. His partnership with Mitchell Marsh is worth 57.

Matthew Wade scrambles to make his ground. Picture: Getty Images
Matthew Wade scrambles to make his ground. Picture: Getty Images

12am: Wading in

Matthew Wade is playing an aggressive hand, looking to score on a pitch that’s offering turn but is still holding true for the batsmen. The left-hander’s punishing anything loose and has helped himself to seven boundaries on the way to 44.

Matthew Wade takes on Jack Leach. Picture: Getty Images
Matthew Wade takes on Jack Leach. Picture: Getty Images

11.30pm: Wicket overturned

A lucky escape for Mitchell Marsh, who’s brilliantly caught by Rory Burns in the slips off the bowling of Chris Woakes. Except the replay shows Woakes has overstepped the crease and it’s a no-ball. Marsh gets a reprieve.

11.20pm: Smith’s number crunching

Steve Smith’s Ashes series ends with 774 runs at an average of 110.57. (And sore shoulders from carrying a comprehensively overmatched batting line-up.)

11.06pm: WICKET!

England may have come up with the plan to nullify Steve Smith! It’s only taken until the second innings of the final Test. Stuart Broad bowls at the body of Smith, who looks to work it off his hip but is brilliantly caught by Ben Stokes at leg gully. Broad and the England team celebrate wildly as Australia’s rock departs. A fifth day now looks superfluous.

11pm: World record!

We know that Australia’s openers struggled mightily in this series — the highest stand of 18 was made today — and the BBC reports the average opening partnership of 12.55 is the lowest ever in a five-Test series.

The view of The Oval on day four. Picture: Getty Images
The view of The Oval on day four. Picture: Getty Images

10.40pm: Second session begins

Right-armer Chris Woakes starts things off post-lunch, Steve Smith on strike. Stuart Broad is warming up at mid off, so he might get a crack from the other end before it becomes the Jack Leach show. We’d like to think Pat Cummins is having a well-earned beer in the dressing room but he’ll probably be batting soon. Here are his final bowling figures:

10pm: Lunch

Steve Smith (18) and Matthew Wade (10) negotiate a tricky spell from left-arm spinner Jack Leach, taking Australia to 3-68 at the break. England’s session (as if there was any doubt).

Jonny Bairstow catches Marnus Labuschagne out of his ground. Picture: Getty Images
Jonny Bairstow catches Marnus Labuschagne out of his ground. Picture: Getty Images

9.44pm: WICKET!

A beautiful bit of glove work — not to mention spin bowling — catches Marnus Labuschagne barely out of his crease. Jack Leach gets some turn, Labuschagne lunges but misses the ball and Jonny Bairstow whips off the bails in a flash. Brilliant.

9.30pm: Broad sword

Stuart Broad is having a rest after a typically devastating opening spell of 2-23 from six overs. The veteran paceman has been superb this series, taking 21 wickets. Jack Leach and Sam Curran — who troubled Steve Smith in the first innings — take up the attack.

Stuart Broad takes flight. Picture: AFP
Stuart Broad takes flight. Picture: AFP

9.10pm: A tale of woe

For the record, David Warner’s scores in this series were: 2, 8, 3, 5, 61, 0, 0, 0, 5, 11.

8.59pm: WICKET!

David Warner’s miserable series ends at the hands of Stuart Broad — who else. The opener fends at a delivery that’s leaving him, and he helps it on the way to Rory Burns at third slip. It’s been a scarcely believable trot of low scores and persecution at the hands of one bowler.

Marcus Harris’s off stump should not be in this position. Picture: Getty Images
Marcus Harris’s off stump should not be in this position. Picture: Getty Images

8.51pm: WICKET!

Didn’t take long. Marcus Harris (9) loses his off stump to Stuart Broad, as he plays inside a full delivery that angles in and moves away fractionally off the wicket. Australia are 1-18.

8.48pm: Milestone reached!

David Warner works Stuart Broad for a leg by to take the score to 14 — Australia’s highest opening score of the series. Seriously.

8.45pm: Close calls early

A few plays and misses for David Warner and Marcus Harris, but no edge ... so far. They’ll need some luck if Australia are any chance of a decent score. Signs of life from Warner as he cracks a wide Jofra Archer ball to the cover boundary. The next ball’s a quick single. That’s more like it.

David Warner gets runs in his second innings at The Oval. Picture: Getty Images
David Warner gets runs in his second innings at The Oval. Picture: Getty Images

8.30pm: Warner faces up

Stuart Broad delivers to the batsman he’s tormented most in this series. Marcus Harris is batting with seven stitches in his left hand after splitting the webbing in it while fielding late on day two.

8.18pm: England all out!

Jack Leach skies an attempted slog-sweep off Nathan Lyon, sending it to Josh Hazlewood at mid on. With that, Australia have been set 399 to win.

Josh Hazlewood takes the catch to remove Jack Leach. Picture: Getty Images
Josh Hazlewood takes the catch to remove Jack Leach. Picture: Getty Images

8.05pm: Wicket!

Breaking news — Tim Paine has made the correct call with DRS. Jofra Archer tries to work Pat Cummins off his hip but the ball goes through the wicketkeeper. Paine is the only fielder to appeal, and for good reason. UltraEdge shows the ball barely brushing the underside of Archer’s gloves. Great call by the skipper, ending a run of 13 misses from Australia.

8pm: We’re underway!

It’s spin to begin as Nathan Lyon opens proceedings under blue skies in London. The temperature is 18C, heading for a top of 26C.

Peter Lalor 7.50pm: Plenty to play for

England have a 382-run lead with two wickets in hand at the start of day four of the final Test.

Australia have a lot to play for.

Steve Smith has 751 runs at an average of 125. If he scores 223 he will equal Don Bradman’s record for the most runs in a series and Australia could go close to winning. It seems unlikely he can do it, but if anybody can do it ...

It is already a massive task to win the Test and ensure the series is not tied, but there are a number of batsmen who could use the last innings to ensure this series has not been a complete bust for them.

David Warner would have been dropped had he not scored 21 Test centuries as an opener, but the allowance granted him for his past has exposed him to a longer run of failures than most. His seven single-figure returns from nine innings are a record he could do without.

Marcus Harris and Matthew Wade could also do with a solid innings before returning home to remind all of why they were selected in the first place.

7.20pm: How day three unfolded

England seized control with dogged, at times flashy, batting on day three while Australian skipper Tim Paine had another forgettable experience with DRS. Here’s a recap of the third day’s play at The Oval.

England bat late on day three. Picture: Getty Images
England bat late on day three. Picture: Getty Images

7pm: Big chase looms for Aussies

Australia must complete a momentous chase to win the fifth Test but Steve Smith’s form will give teammates hope, while the remarkable right-hander will be keen to tick off a career first, AAP reports.

Smith grassed one chance but continued to prove the man of the moment for Australia on day three of the series finale, clutching four catches.

It included a sensational one-handed effort late in the day, when the 30-year-old flung himself sideways and the ball stuck in his outstretched hand to dismiss Chris Woakes.

It will take something special to deny England a series-levelling victory. But Peter Siddle hasn’t lost hope, pointing to how Ben Stokes reeled in a target of 359 in a stunning six-laden rampage at Headingley.

“We know what happened at Headingley on a nice batting strip,” Siddle told the BBC. “So if we make the most of this deck, who knows?

“There is not a lot happening with the ball, so if you’re patient like they were then you can build a big innings.”

Smith, who has 751 runs at 125.16 in the series after a first-innings knock of 80, needs a mammoth 223 in his second dig to reach Don Bradman’s peerless tally of 974 runs in the 1930 Ashes.

A more realistic goal is a fourth-innings century; Smith has posted 26 Test tons but none in the final dig of a match.

“You wouldn’t bet against Steve Smith making his first fourth-innings century, that’s a start and we’ll see how we go from there,” Siddle said.

Tim Paine heaped praise on Smith’s ability to influence a game from the slips cordon and the crease.

“He’s just a freak. We were actually chatting about it out there, batsmen like him seem to always be in the game,” Paine said.

“(Ben) Stokes is the same, they’re just in the contest and in the game all the time. Whether they’re at slip or at point or with the ball or with the bat.

“That’s what makes great cricketers, great. It was a pretty special catch late in the day after he’s been batting for seven weeks straight.”

— AAP

Gideon Haigh 6.30pm: Series dispels popular theory

It’s been a bad summer for lots of things: David Warner, James Anderson, Joel Wilson, boundary counts, Fortress Edgbaston etc. But it’s been still worse for the vogue of applying to cricket the concept of ‘momentum’. Read more here

Additional reporting: Agencies

Read related topics:Ashes

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2019-fifth-test-day-4-live-coverage-scores-from-the-oval/news-story/4b58e10213e719c1f31de3553903adda