Australia have the chance to bat England out of the last Test and set up a rare away Ashes series victory for their veterans after recovering from dropping five catches during the opening day at the Oval on Thursday.
By stumps Australia were 1/61, with one of their veterans, Usman Khawaja, continuing his good tour on 26 not out. England made 283 with their spinner, Moeen Ali, suffering a groin strain that threatens to rule him out for the remainder of the match.
Mitchell Starc takes the wicket of Ben Stokes of England at the Oval.Credit: Getty Images
Mitchell Starc claimed Australia’s best figures, 4-82, despite battling a left shoulder injury suffered diving in the field during the previous Test at Old Trafford last week, which required heavy strapping.
The most costly drop was Harry Brook. In the Zak Crawley mould, Brook aimed a big drive at Cummins on five. Alex Carey dived one-handed to his right when he probably could have gone with both hands and dropped the chance.
After a couple of nicks past the slips Brook got into stride, adding a 111-run partnership in 18 overs with Moeen before his injury induced departure. It began a collapse of 7/99 from England, tumbling from 3/184. Among the clatter of wickets was Brook’s after he edged a wide ball from Starc to be well caught by Steve Smith at second slip for 85.
At least half this ageing Australian team won’t be back in four years time, meaning Australia must win or draw this Test to ensure they claim their first series victory in England, something no Australia side has achieved on an Ashes tour in 22 years. Only Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, and Nathan Lyon’s injury replacement, Todd Murphy, are under 30.
Having made another start before edging to second slip for 24, David Warner may be playing his last Test if the selectors decide he has not done enough to continue towards his nominated retirement Test against Pakistan at the SCG in early January. Warner has made six scores of 24 or more in nine innings during this Ashes, but only one half-century, 66.
England may regret going down the nostalgic route by selecting Jimmy Anderson, 41, on Sunday, for what surely will be his last Test. It was surprising that the faster Josh Tongue, 26, was overlooked after a strong Ashes debut at Lord’s, where he generated good pace and bounce.
Anderson wasn’t the only bowler to have a wayward opening spell on Thursday, with Starc and Josh Hazlewood having an inconsistent start to the match after Pat Cummins won the toss and bowled.
By contrast, Cummins bowled one of the best spells of the series after admitting he bowled poorly at Old Trafford and had his captaincy questioned. With his first ball in this match Cummins had Ben Duckett dropped on 30 by Warner at first slip.
It was one of three early catches that went down, raising fears of 2019 revisited after Australia entered the last Test at the Oval four years ago 2-1 up, decided to bowl first, and dropped five catches on the opening day. England went on to win, and level the series 2-2.
Cummins also used his bowlers well in conditions that suited the seamers, bringing on Murphy to Moeen when England’s injured spinner was unable to move properly. Moeen had a wild swing at Murphy and was bowled for 34.
Recalled to replace out of sorts all-rounder Cameron Green, who been overtaken by the excellent form of Mitchell Marsh, Murphy finished with 2/22 from his six overs after also bowling Mark Wood (28), who had an equally wild swing.
Australia bowled much better to Zak Crawley after the opener hammered 189 in just 182 balls at Old Trafford before almost two days of rain allowed Australia to escape with a draw.
He was dropped on eleven by a diving Steve Smith making ground from second slip to cover a vacant third, and played and missed a number of times, particularly at Cummins. Smith took a sharp catch at second slip to remove Crawley for 22 playing across a delivery from Cummins.
Joe Root (5) was out to his bread and butter shoot, trying to glide Hazlewood to third man. The nipped back, took the inside edge and crashed into his stumps. England had lost 3-11 from 22 balls after a 62-run opening stand.
