Australia retain the Ashes after 2-1 win in five match series

8 Sep 2019, International Test Match Series – Day 5 of 5 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

England Vs Australia

England 301 ao Burns 81 off 185, 9 fours, Root 71 off 168, 10 fours, Butler 41 off 64, 7 fours, Hazelwood 4-57, Starc 3-80, Cummins 3-60.

197 ao Denly 53 off 123, 6 fours, Jos Buttler 34 off 111, 4 fours,, Roy 31 off 67, 4 fours, Cummins 4-43, Hazlewood 2-31, Lyon 2-51, Stard 1-46, Labuschagne 1-9

Australia 497-8 dec, Labuschagne 67 off 128, 10 fours, Smith 211 off 319, 245 fours, 2 sixes, Paine 58 off 127, 8 fours, Starc 54 off 58, 7 fours, Broad 3-97, Leach 2-83, C Overton 2-85, Root 1-39.

186-6 dec Smith 82 off 92, 12 fours, Wade 34 off 76, 2fours, Archer 3-45, Broad 2-54, Leach 1-58.

Australia win by 185 runs

Australia have retained the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years and lead 2-1 in five match series . The last test at The Oval begins from Thursday. .

England can still draw the series 2-2.

After lunch Joe Denly 53, J Jonny Bairstow offer some some resistance by both fell eventually and England were left with 36 overs to bat with four wickets in hand at the start of the final session. Jos Butler, Craig Overton and Jack Leach all tried to save the match by in vain.

Amid tension England’s ninth wicket pair Craig Overton and Jack Leach survived 14 overs.

England began the day on 18-2 chasing 383, but relentless Australian attach was simply too much.

Australia will leave the UK with the urn for the first time since 2001, while England fails to add the Ashes to the World Cup they won in July 2019.

England must now win the final test if they are to avoid suffering their first home series defeat against any side since 2014.

Cummins removed Rory Burns and captain Joe Root in successive balls on the fourth evening.

England captain Joe Root said “ I’m bitterly disappointed. To come so close to taking it to The Oval is hard to take.”

Australian captain Tim Paine said :” I’m pretty pumped. This team has been through a lot. The character we have showed says a lot about the people in our side. The boys have got what they deserved. Steve is the best player I have ever seen. He showed that again in this Test match. He knows the game so well and reads it so well.”

Steve Smith said “ I have been here a few times and didn’t get the chocolates them. To know the urn coming home is incredibly pleasing.”