For the first time in the series, England had a real chance of winning a Test match. They had Australia on their knees but once again, they couldn’t drive home the advantage.
Mark Wood was breathing fire in the first session of the day. The 32-year-old fast bowler ran through the Australian middle-order in no time and reduced them to 63/6.
He had dismissed Usman Khawaja with a brutal bouncer at the end of day two, and then he got the wickets of Scott Boland, Steve Smith and Travis Head. At that stage, Australia’s lead was just 178.
But the lower order once again came to the hosts’ rescue. Cameron Green and Alex Carey shared a 49-run stand. Green chipped in with 23 but after his dismissal, Carey batted on and struck 49, taking Australia’s score to 155. That set England a total of 271 to gain a consolation win.
The England openers started really well too. Rory Burns and Zak Crawley put on 68 runs for the first wicket and looked solid in the middle. It was England’s best opening stand of the series. However, Green came into the attack just before Tea, and he got Australia the much-needed breakthrough. Burns dragged one back on to his stumps, trying to leave a delivery.
After Tea, all hell broke loose. England collapsed like a pack of cards and were bowled out for 124. It was Green who continued the mayhem as he got the wickets of Dawid Malan and Crawley. Malan was bowled off an inside-edge, and he had never looked comfortable in his 20-ball stay in the middle. Meanwhile, Crawley nicked one to the keeper, trying to drive on the up.
Mitchell Starc then got rid off the big fish Ben Stokes who holed out at deep square leg. Scott Boland landed the killer blow as he knocked over Joe Root with a ball that kept low. Root was dismissed by Boland for the fourth time this series. Pat Cummins joined the party and alongside Boland wrapped up the England innings.
Boland dismissed Sam Billings and Chris Woakes while Cummins picked up Ollie Pope, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson – all three bowled.
England were bowled out for 124, and they lost by 146 runs. England’s barren run down under continued. The series ended with Australia retaining the Ashes 4-0.
Brief scores
Australia 303 (Head 101, Green 74, Broad 3/59, Wood 3/115) and 155 (Carey 49, Wood 6/37) beat England 188 (Root 34, Cummins 4/45, Starc 3/53) and 124 (Crawley 36, Cummins 3/42, Boland 3/18, Green 3/21) by 146 runs
