- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR1.5 nicks off! Cummins gets his radar spot on, nip and climb off the seam, angled in at off stump, fractional deviation away from a hard-handed block, a slender outside edge, Cummins has his 100th Test wicket on home soil, and Hameed has another duck! 4/17.2 turned inside-out! And Crawley departs! Lift on off stump, climbing into the shoulder of the bat, a fast fat nick straight into the hands of gully... well, he's improved his average for 2021, but not England's fortunes at the top of the order! 13/226.3 edged, taken this time! What a performance from the captain. Good length, angled across, Malan presses forward and it's a regulation nick that reaches Warner at waist height 61/332.6 chases the fourth-stump line again, and it's 50 and out! Oh dear, that's a poor shot from Root, he was so untroubled, but a moment of laziness, on the back foot, fails to ride the bounce this time, and Carey pouches the thin nick! Starc hasn't been at his best, but a hint of shape on a good length is enough to rip out the massive wicket! 82/446.2 taken at point! Green grabs another big wicket. The pressure pays off. A short delivery outside off, Stokes again leaning back, can't keep his back-foot drive down and it's neatly held. He appeared a little in two minds about whether to go in the air. Stokes' hard work comes to not much 115/558.4 well ... that was something while it lasted... just as he's finding his feet, Bairstow loses his feet, a short ball into the body, a cramped limbo into the line of the ball, a looping deflection off the glove, out to gully. And there goes England's last hope of something competitive. He briefly looked like reviewing that, which is an indication of how confused he was by the short ball 159/851.2 oh dear! He's sent it straight down the throat of deep midwicket. On the stroke of tea. Used his feet, didn't get near to the pitch, went through the flick high into the leg side and it's a simple take for Boland. Not sure what to say about that from England's point of view. Australia's day gets better and better. 128/655.5 huge appeal, nailed on the front pad, and that looks plumb! Boland has his maiden Test wicket, but Wood is reviewing, as well he might. But umpire Reiffel had a long hard look at that, and I back his take on this one. It's clearly pad-first, and the third umpire agrees... and yes, that is smashing middle! The subsidence continues 141/765.1 hoisted high, but not so mightily, straight down the throat of deep midwicket! Robinson went for the big shot, Boland backpedalled on the largest outfield in the game, and swallows his second chance of the day. England succumb for less than 200, for the 12th time this year. 185/1063.3 a simple edge to slip, a bit of pop on off stump. And that's the end of Leach's fun. Good areas from Lyon, dipping from round the wicket and kissing the thumb on the bottom hand. Smith watches the chance straight into his hands 176/9Extras5 (lb 4, nb 1)TOTAL185 all out (65.1 Overs, RR: 2.83, 304 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Haseeb Hameed, 1.5 ov), 2-13 (Zak Crawley, 7.2 ov), 3-61 (Dawid Malan, 26.3 ov), 4-82 (Joe Root, 32.6 ov), 5-115 (Ben Stokes, 46.2 ov), 6-128 (Jos Buttler, 51.2 ov), 7-141 (Mark Wood, 55.5 ov), 8-159 (Jonny Bairstow, 58.4 ov), 9-176 (Jack Leach, 63.3 ov), 10-185 (Ollie Robinson, 65.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MA Starc 15 3 54 2 3.60 0 1 PJ Cummins 15 2 36 3 2.40 0 0 SM Boland 13 2 48 1 3.69 0 0 C Green 8 4 7 1 0.87 0 0 NM Lyon 14.1 3 36 3 2.54 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR61.1 edged, taken at first slip! More brilliance from Anderson. Round the wicket, right on the spot, full length outside off, brings Harris forward and doesn't really chase it. Straightens enough to take the edge and it's another safe catch from the captain. Good innings from Harris but a maiden Test hundred goes begging 180/614.1 taken in the gully! Well, well. Almost out of nowhere. Over the wicket, good length angled across Warner, he jabs at it somewhat and the thick edge carries low to Crawley who takes it very well. Excellent catch. How England needed that. 57/119.4 super delivery, thin nick to the keeper! That's tremendous line-and-length from Robinson, pitching on, holding its line, snicking the edge of a hard-handed push, and Buttler clings on with no alarms. The nightwatchman goes, and now battle is joined! 76/224.3 edged, and straight to Root at slip! That is a massive moment for England! No lives this time for Marnus, lovely pace from Wood, kicking from a tight line, into the splice and a comfortable deflection! Two early wickets on the second morning, and their biggest thorn of the series gone. A chance... a chance to keep the innings within England's reach 84/335.1 cleaned him up! Reward for a superb spell. Good length outside off, Smith plays forward and it takes an inside edge into the top of the stumps. The bat slightly angled, and there was a bit of a gap. Well, that changes this a bit 110/455.4 dangles the bat fatefully once more, and Root clutches on at first slip! Just when England were starting to look a bit lost, Robinson's probing line from over the wicket hits pay-dirt, Head was tempted all over long by the angle across his bows, and this time has a nibble. The skipper watches the ball into his bread-basket, and there's a post-lunch opening 171/572.5 skids on, and Leach has the breakthrough! Up goes the finger but Green is reviewing. He was a long way back as the ball thudded his knee-roll. No evidence of inside-edge on Hot Spot... or on Snicko. So, all on ball tracker. It's leg-sided, but clipping leg, and so umpire's call stands! 207/775.3 driven, and edged! Stokes strikes before the new ball too, and England are properly in the contest now! Full length again, shape across the left-hander, luring him outside the line of off stump, for a thin nick into Buttler's gloves. There's something brewing here... 219/884.2 swings into the pull, a leading edge loops to point, Anderson has England's first four-for of the series! Hameed is on hand to end Cummins' handy stay. The lead is 68, which is pretty much the limit of what England dare to concede, as Scott Boland emerges on debut 253/987.5 edged, taken at second slip! Wood gets a fully deserved second wicket. Back of a length outside off, Boland pushed at it and the thick edge is well taken by Crawley 267/10Extras12 (b 2, lb 4, nb 5, w 1)TOTAL267 all out (87.5 Overs, RR: 3.03, 396 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-57 (David Warner, 14.1 ov), 2-76 (Nathan Lyon, 19.4 ov), 3-84 (Marnus Labuschagne, 24.3 ov), 4-110 (Steven Smith, 35.1 ov), 5-171 (Travis Head, 55.4 ov), 6-180 (Marcus Harris, 61.1 ov), 7-207 (Cameron Green, 72.5 ov), 8-219 (Alex Carey, 75.3 ov), 9-253 (Pat Cummins, 84.2 ov), 10-267 (Scott Boland, 87.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB JM Anderson 23 10 33 4 1.43 0 0 OE Robinson 19.2 4 64 2 3.31 0 4 MA Wood 19.5 2 71 2 3.57 0 0 BA Stokes 10.4 1 47 1 4.40 1 1 MJ Leach 15 0 46 1 3.06 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR10.3 he's got him! Outside edge and the MCG roars for its local hero. A lovely delivery from Boland, back of a length at off stump, nips off the seam and takes a thin nick as Hameed is squared up. That's also a wicket for the work of Starc and Cummins 22/34.4 huge appeal for caught behind, it the finger goes up! It felt inevitable the way Australia were bowling. This was a length ball angled across, Crawley goes to defend and it just grazes the outside edge 7/14.5 massive appeal for lbw and given first ball! Will Malan review? Yes, he's gone upstairs. Hold the celebration, folks. It looked reasonably high. Short of a length and angled back in at Malan who was beaten for pace. It's leg-side(ish)...and it's umpire's calls on hitting the leg bail! Resume those celebrations 7/224.4 hard-handed drive, and that truly is the end of that! Angled in once more, Root flashes through the line, feeling the need to keep England moving, somehow, towards a lead. But Warner at slip clings onto a fat deflection. This is unlikely to last beyond lunch now 61/710.5 gone, left it alone, loses off stump! Carnage at the MCG. Round the wicket, length delivery shapes back, Leach doesn't play and the ball pings into the top of off stump. What scenes 22/416.5 what a response! Starc aims fuller, tighter to the stumps, detonating the top of middle, clean through the gate! Stokes came forward to defend, but that was too fast and too good! Shaping back in from over the wicket, and cutting off the seam for extra impact. Proper bowling 46/522.5 huge appeal! And given! A long look from umpire Wilson, that looked hugely adjacent, but Bairstow reviews. He was thumped on the knee-roll, not very far forward. No sign of an inside-edge, so this is likely to be curtains. Not sure it'll be outside the line... indeed, it's Umpire's Call! On impact and hitting the stumps. But he was beaten all ends up by the wicket-to-wicket, line and length, tailing in. No complaints about that being given! 60/626.1 straight back to him, it's a five-wicket haul! What a match for Boland. It's a full ball at off stump, Wood comes forward to drive and just pops a return catch back down the pitch. Can you believe these figures? 3.1-1-5-5. Mind-boggling stuff 65/826.3 edged, taken at third slip! INCREDIBLE SCENES. SIX FOR BOLAND. Length ball outside off, Robinson props forward and it's a snaffled by Labuschagne 65/927.4 cleaned him up! The Ashes are retained Round the wicket, full at the stumps, shoots past the edge and into off stump 68/10Extras5 (lb 5)TOTAL68 all out (27.4 Overs, RR: 2.45, 141 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Zak Crawley, 4.4 ov), 2-7 (Dawid Malan, 4.5 ov), 3-22 (Haseeb Hameed, 10.3 ov), 4-22 (Jack Leach, 10.5 ov), 5-46 (Ben Stokes, 16.5 ov), 6-60 (Jonny Bairstow, 22.5 ov), 7-61 (Joe Root, 24.4 ov), 8-65 (Mark Wood, 26.1 ov), 9-65 (Ollie Robinson, 26.3 ov), 10-68 (James Anderson, 27.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MA Starc 10 3 29 3 2.90 0 0 PJ Cummins 10 4 19 0 1.90 0 0 SM Boland 4 1 7 6 1.75 0 0 C Green 3.4 0 8 1 2.18 0 0
Match Details
Toss
Australia , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Series result
Australia led the 5-match series 3-0
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
11.00 start, Lunch 13.00-13.40, Tea 15.40-16.00, Close 18.00
Match days
26,27,28 Decemer 2021 (5-day match)
Test debut
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
Australia 12, England 0
Close of Play
- Sun, 26 Dec - day 1 - Australia 1st innings 61/1 (MS Harris 20*, NM Lyon 0*, 16 ov)
- Mon, 27 Dec - day 2 - England 2nd innings 31/4 (JE Root 12*, BA Stokes 2*, 12 ov)
- Tue, 28 Dec - day 3 - England 2nd innings 68 (27.4 ov) - end of match
Match Notes
- England: 50 runs in 18.5 overs (113 balls), Extras 5
- Over 22.5: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - P Wilson, Batter - JM Bairstow (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Drinks: England - 61/7 in 24.4 overs (JC Buttler 0)
- Match Delayed: Australia - 61/1 in 16.0 overs (MS Harris 20, NM Lyon 0)
- Australia: 100 runs in 28.5 overs (176 balls), Extras 5
- Over 30.4: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - PR Reiffel, Batter - MS Harris (Upheld)
- Lunch: Australia - 131/4 in 42.0 overs (MS Harris 48, TM Head 11)
- MS Harris: 50 off 130 balls (5 x 4)
- Australia: 150 runs in 46.1 overs (280 balls), Extras 7
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 93 balls (MS Harris 25, TM Head 23, Ex 2)
- Drinks: Australia - 173/5 in 58.0 overs (MS Harris 69, C Green 2)
- Australia: 200 runs in 70.6 overs (431 balls), Extras 11
- Tea: Australia - 200/6 in 71.0 overs (C Green 12, AT Carey 9)
- Over 72.5: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - PR Reiffel, Batter - C Green (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- New ball taken at 80.1 overs
- Australia: 250 runs in 83.6 overs (509 balls), Extras 11
- Innings Break: Australia - 267/10 in 87.5 overs (MA Starc 24)
- England 2nd innings
- Over 4.5: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - P Wilson, Batter - DJ Malan (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- End Of Day: England - 31/4 in 12.0 overs (JE Root 12, BA Stokes 2)
- England 1st innings
- Rain: England - 0/0
- Match Delayed: England - 0/0
- Drinks: England - 31/2 in 13.0 overs (DJ Malan 4, JE Root 14)
- England: 50 runs in 20.5 overs (126 balls), Extras 2
- Lunch: England - 61/3 in 26.3 overs (JE Root 33)
- JE Root: 50 off 76 balls (4 x 4)
- England: 100 runs in 38.4 overs (233 balls), Extras 2
- Drinks: England - 110/4 in 40.0 overs (BA Stokes 22, JM Bairstow 10)
- Tea: England - 128/6 in 51.2 overs (JM Bairstow 21)
- Over 55.5: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - PR Reiffel, Batter - MA Wood (Struck down)
- England: 150 runs in 57.4 overs (347 balls), Extras 3
- Innings Break: England - 185/10 in 65.1 overs (JM Anderson 0)
- Australia 1st innings
- Australia: 50 runs in 12.1 overs (74 balls), Extras 2
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 74 balls (MS Harris 11, DA Warner 38, Ex 2)
- End Of Day: Australia - 61/1 in 16.0 overs (MS Harris 20, NM Lyon 0)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsWhat is the record for the most caught-behind wicketkeeping dismissals in Tests?
And what is the lowest total that was enough for an innings victory in a Test?
Woakes backs Root to stay on as England captain
"He's got a great cricket brain and I think his record as England captain is actually pretty good."
Boland makes strong entry into ICC rankings; Anderson moves up to fifth place among bowlers
Starc overtakes Stokes to move to fifth place among allrounders
'Who does that? Scott Boland does. Our ancestors stand proud with him'
An extraordinary spell earned the debutant the JohnnyĂÂ Mullagh Medal on an historic day
Ashes thrashings excites Pat Cummins for challenges ahead
Australia's bowling depth has captain believing they have "options for anywhere in the world"