All the hopes of a thrilling final day’s play were shattered after the visitors relinquished to the hands of Australians handing them a 120-run win and what seemingly looks like the urn as well. Going into Day 5 England needed 177 runs with 6 wickets in hand. It may not have been their game but they were definitely not looking at the target with a telescope.
Top 8 players which might decide the fate of England-Australia Ashes Test Series 2017-18
The day started with Hazlewood getting the knick off Woakes and Root’s bat first up. England lost the game there itself. Starcy ‘The Mop’ didn’t take long to wipe off the tail. No Englishman could survive the devastating bowling barring Johnny Bairstow who gave stubborn resistance with a 36.
Despite English batsmen not being able to put up a fight, Joe Root believes England are ‘massively’ in the series. “I thought we showed a lot of character which is what you want to see in big series,” the England captain said. “It is now about finding a way to do it over five days.
VIDEO: Watch all 37 wickets of Mitchell Johnson’s from the 2013-14 Ashes series against England
The way that we went about the second innings proved to everyone really we are still massively in this series. I think we are playing better cricket. I don’t think we are as unevenly matched as we were.(talking about 2013 whitewash). We have been in control for periods. I don’t think necessarily that was the case last time around.”
As Australia complete a 2-0 drubbing let’s take a look at 10 Ashes stats that you perhaps don’t know:-
– by Atharva Apte
1) Only once in history Australia has lost a series after winning the first test at Gabba (1954-55 vs England)
2) Nathan Lyon has dismissed Alastair Cook 7 times. No other off-spinner has dismissed him more than thrice.
3) The third test is scheduled for WACA, Perth. England have lost all 7 out of last 7 tests at WACA
4) Australia has recorded 7 wins on a trot in Ashes tests played in Australia first time since 1920-21.
5) James Anderson’s 5/43 was his first five-wicket haul on Australian soil in 15 tests.
– by Atharva Apte