5468 days. 6 British Prime Ministers. 68 new caps. 16 losses. 2 draws. Almost 15 years. Continued embarrassment. Too little, too late.
After a wait spanning a generation since England’s last win on Australia soil at the Sydney victory party in January 2011, Ben Stokes’ men clinched an unlikely four-wicket victory on a spicy Melbourne pitch inside two days of the fourth Ashes Test.
Chasing only 175 after Brydon Carse snaffled four and the skipper claimed three, England utilised ‘Bazball’ to perfection on this occasion to chase the target in only just 32.2 overs.
Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set the tone with a blistering 51-run stand inside seven overs, while Jacob Bethell marked his return to the XI with an impressive 40 on a grassy surface offering plenty of assistance to the quicks.
It was then up to Harry Brook (18*) to seal victory when he pulled a Jhye Richardson bouncer down to the fine-leg boundary- much to the elation of the passionate, loyal Barmy Army following who have been in fine voice throughout.
With the hosts retaining the urn once again with victory in the third Test at Adelaide, it is merely a token triumph, yet one that barely feels believable given England’s propensity for capitulation and Australia’s knack of being ruthless and sealing emphatic whitewashes in recent memory.
One could argue Australia took their foot off the gas after sealing the series, but England must be credited for how they handled the pitch and continued to fight when many previous sides have wilted under the weight of criticism; almost accepting the inevitability of a humiliating 5-0 defeat.
Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue was incredibly impressive with five in the first innings and two in the second, finding the perfect length that others have failed to hit consistently throughout the series.
The 28-year-old finishes with 33 wickets in only six Tests across 2025, the joint fourth highest globally alongside Bangladesh off-spinner Taijul Islam and his skipper Stokes.
His career record of 43 wickets at 26.81 and a strike-rate of just 39 means Tongue may just be the first name on the team sheet when New Zealand arrive at Lord’s in June.
The way England managed the injury of seamer Gus Atkinson in that third innings, another bowling casualty on the tour, was also pleasing as the workload of Stokes, Carse and Tongue was increased even further. Sticking to their task brilliantly as a unit, England made sure the hosts could not take use of this advantage.
While Australia missed their talismanic skipper Pat Cummins, who is managing his workload, not to mention Nathan Lyon with a hamstring injury, they will be equally frustrated by an unsatisfactory pitch (ICC words) that brought England into the contest more.
In a wild series ravaged by injuries and inept batting displays, sprinkled with a few masterclasses inbetween, Australia will be looking to finish on a high to win 4-1 at the SCG.
For England, however, the prospect of losing only 3-2 offers the opportunity to rebuild some national pride and give the likes of Brendon McCullum and Rob Key longer in their respective roles to make a positive change.
After everything we believed could happen, with many suggesting the Three Lions would win down under, it’s a crying shame that the tourists have displayed much of their best cricket when the contest is already done. For themselves and the wider cricketing world.
With an astonishing lack of preparation, some questionable selection decisions, countless woeful fielding errors and a number of collapses with the bat, it’s again a case of what could have been? Could they have walked away with the urn or are Australia too good?
The exciting, vibrant brand of ‘Bazball’ cannot continue to talk the talk, yet not walk the walk. Dazzle when it suits. Flattering to deceive is completely unsustainable.
Perhaps ‘Bazball’ is already dead and buried- or simply needs reviving.
English cricket fans deserve more…
Left Arm Around 
Leave a comment