An Ashes five-fer: Melbourne, Day 5

1) DEAD AS A DODO PITCH CALLED OUT BY AN AUSSIE: Before a ball was even bowled on the final day, former Aussie opener Chris Rogers was questioning the validity of the MCG pitch. Normally, a hotbed of cracks, shooters and fraught survival, this fifth act felt like anything but in front of a ground barely 10 per cent full. The lifeless 100 minutes before patchy rain brought things to a brief halt almost sapped the will to stay awake. Both captains were equally critical of the drop-in dud.
‘That sort of wicket will kill Test cricket and has no place in the game’@CollinsAdam and @NorcrossCricket deliver their verdict after Day 5 of the fourth #Ashes Test in Melbourne. 🇦🇺🏏
Follow the link to watch in full pic.twitter.com/YuIcocHTOY
— Yahoo Sport UK (@YahooSportUK) December 30, 2017
2) DAVID WARNER CAN’T CONTAIN HULK MOMENT: David Warner showed the required self-restraint to eke out 86 runs in just over five hours. When he saw Joe Root bring himself on for a twirl, it was Walkabout bar all over again as the shirt ripped and the “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry” mode was truly engaged. Unfortunately for Warner, his muscular heave looped up in the air to James Vince. Root let out a guttural roar.
David Warner has gone from chinning Joe Root in a bar to handing him a beautifully wrapped birthday present 👨❤️💋👨
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) December 30, 2017
3) MOEEN A LONG-HAUL PASSENGER FROM HELL: Times have changed since Moeen Ali claimed a hat-trick and 25 wickets against South Africa in the summer. That feel-good factor was all very very misleading in terms of how his body language would translate to an Ashes tour.. Moeen has no deep-seated confidence in his bowling at the best of times, but there’s been an all-out destruction of it on this tour. When a mainline spinner has no influence on a fourth innings then things have to change.
Michael Vaughan – Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
“We will never know if a win would have been possible if England had had a high-class spinner,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan.
“If you can’t bowl on the last day when the team is bowling for victory, then you can’t really play.”
4) BROAD AND ANDERSON FIND EXTRA GEAR: On a pudding of a pitch offering no last day freebies for tired bowlers, Broad and Anderson bowled in the mid 80s with some real rhythm and accuracy. Both Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith could have gone in a tense 40 minute session after lunch. Even so, England still can’t get 20 wickets in a match and it is hurting them big time. As soon as Chris Woakes and Tom Curran replaced the senior duo, the levels of intensity went down.
That Jonny Bairstow catch earlier… pic.twitter.com/WhtinxQA8b
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) December 30, 2017
5) STEVE SMITH DOES NOT DO BORED: All of the Australian batsmen who were dismissed fell to their weaknesses. They could not hold the force within that wanted bat on ball. Smith is a man apart. He simply will not take the bait. He can bat all day and enter the next as if there’s another six hours to complete before any relaxation can be considered. It is a rare thing to see someone who can take temptation out of the equation. It was a fourth successive century at the MCG.
Steve Smith’s average in each of the last four calendar years:
2014: 81.86
2015: 73.70
2016: 71.93
2017: 74.82Superhuman.#Ashes #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/qvcjlHsa4A
— CricBlog (@cric_blog) December 30, 2017
Latest
-
News
England all-rounder Ben Stokes doubts he will ever hit peak
The 29-year-old says he takes inspiration from captain Joe Root.
-
News
The key questions about rescheduled Hundred
The inaugural tournament for the 100-ball competition was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
-
News
Graham Thorpe urges England’s batsmen to step up and lighten burden on Joe Root
No touring batsman accumulated more than Moeen Ali’s 49 runs across two innings in the second Test.
-
News
Chaminda Vaas resigns just three days into Sri Lanka job
Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas...
-
News
England batsman Zak Crawley fit again and aiming to keep improving
The Kent batsman scored 35 runs across four innings in Sri Lanka last month.
-
News
James Anderson understands benefits of England’s ‘frustrating’ rotation policy
The seamer was rested for the second Test in India.
-
News
Heather Knight looking forward to England’s return to ODI action in New Zealand
The series is the first since England’s domestic set-up became fully professional.
-
News
Kumar Sangakkara confirms possible IPL clash for England stars
Stokes, Archer and Buttler could miss Test duty to stay with Rajasthan Royals.
-
News
Mark Wood: England seamers are thinking pink ahead of day/night Test
England’s seam attack have seen the ball swing and bounce during net sessions in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Tash Farrant: ECB pro deal gave me fresh lease of life
The left-armer is making her international comeback in New Zealand.