- News
- Sports News
- Cricket News
- AUS vs ENG 4th Ashes Test highlights: England beat Australia by four wickets at MCG
AUS vs ENG 4th Ashes Test highlights: England beat Australia by four wickets at MCG
The pumped-up tourists dismissed Australia for 132 soon after lunch in front of a bumper 92,045 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, following the 20 wickets that tumbled on day one.
It left them chasing 175 to win, with Harry Brook (18) and Jamie Smith (three) seeing them home for the loss of six wickets to huge roars from their travelling "Barmy Army" of fans. Jacob Bethell contributed 40 and Zak Crawley 37.
England crashed in the first three Tests and came to Melbourne under enormous pressure amid questions about their limited preparations and allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-series beach break.
But they finally came good and will head to Sydney for the fifth and final Test brimming with confidence.
England had not won a Test in Australia since January 2011 at Sydney, losing 16 and drawing two since, and openers Crawley and Ben Duckett had a clear objective to snap the streak -- play ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style.
Duckett hit a boundary off Mitchell Starc in his first over while Crawley slammed Michael Neser for a six and a four in successive balls.
They brought up a whirlwind fifty opening partnership but next ball Duckett was bowled by a Starc yorker for 34.
Fast bowler Brydon Carse then strode to the middle as a surprise number three in place of Bethell.
But England's pinch-hitting experiment failed as Carse lasted only eight balls before skying Jhye Richardson to Cameron Green.
Crawley fell lbw to Scott Boland after a gritty knock and Bethell was caught by Usman Khawaja from the same bowler.
Richardson trapped Joe Root (15) lbw and Starc accounted for Ben Stokes (2), but by then only 10 runs were needed and Brook and Smith completed the job.
- Atkinson injury -
Australia resumed on 4-0 in their second innings after an explosive opening day of searing pace saw 20 wickets fall with the hosts dismissed for 152 and England just 110.
It was the most wickets to tumble on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on day one of the series opener in Perth.
With 10 millimetres of grass on the track it was a bowler's dream, but a host of former greats criticised the pitch for "doing too much" and being "unfair for the batters".
Nightwatchman Boland added two to his overnight four, but his time was always going to be limited and he edged Gus Atkinson to wicketkeeper Smith.
Atkinson left the field soon after clutching what appeared to be his left hamstring.
Josh Tongue came into the attack on a hat-trick after bagging the last two Australia wickets on day one, but Jake Weatherald whipped his full ball for three.
Weatherald needed a decent knock to cement his spot at the top of the order, but he failed again, bowled by Stokes for five leaving a delivery that nipped back.
Travis Head was joined by Marnus Labuschagne but he only made eight, caught by Root in the slips off Tongue.
Head was in good touch before being bowled on 46 by a peach of a delivery from Carse that beat the outside edge, and when Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) departed in the space of nine balls the momentum was back with England.
After reaching lunch at 98-6, Green (19) became the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 119, edging a rising Stokes ball to Harry Brook at slip.
Carse bagged Neser and Starc without scoring and Richardson fell to Stokes with the last four wickets tumbling for 13 runs, leaving Steve Smith unbeaten on 24.
- Joe Root 12 (30)
- Harry Brook 1 (6)
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Length-delivery, on off, Joe Root lets the ball arrive and calmly taps it out to point.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Angles in and around off, on a fuller length. Root drives it straight, and Boland stops it with his left hand on the follow-through.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Just outside off, a fraction short, Joe Root waits back and steers it to the cover-point region.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, On a good length, on middle and leg, Harry gets across and clips it off the inner half into the leg side for a quick single.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, FOUR BYES! That will help England a lot. Straight down leg, on a length, kicking up a bit from the pitch. Harry Brook shuffles across and tries to lap it behind, but the ball beats his bat and with Carey standing up to the wickets, he has very little reaction time to pluck the ball to his left. It races behind to the deep fine leg fence.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, JUST SHORT! Too full from Neser, around off, Brook smashes it flatly on the bounce to mid off where Inglis makes a diving stop to his right.
DRINKS BREAK. We are down to the final hour of play, and England are in touching distance of their first Test win in 14 years on Australian soil. Jacob Bethell played a fluent knock, but couldn't finish off for his side. The young lad will be pleased to have some runs behind his name, at least. It's now on England's two best batters to get the job done without any hiccups. As far as Australia are concerned, they will fight till the last drop of blood. A wicket or two here will again make things a bit interesting.
- Joe Root 12 (27)
- Harry Brook 0 (3)
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Over off, on a hard length, Joe rises with the bounce and dabs it to point.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Seaming back in, on a good length, on middle. Root is solid in defence.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Fuller and attacking the stumps, kept out with a straight bat by Joe.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, FOUR BYES! Pushed down leg by Neser with the keeper up to the stumps. Root fails to lay any bat on the tickle. Alex Carey gets both gloves to his left to make the stop, but the ball clips him on the fingertips and goes behind into the fence.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Curving back in, on a good length, on off and middle. Root brings his bat out in front to defend.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, On top of off, on a good length, stabbed down on the off side.
- Harry Brook 0 (3)
- Joe Root 12 (21)
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, Pitched up, outside off, Harry steps out of his crease and pushes out in front. Gets it off the outer half to cover.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, On a good length, on off, Brook stays on the back foot this time to keep it out. The ball nips back and Harry wears it high on the back pad.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, Goes past the bat! Full and in the channel, Brook walks down the track and across his stumps to cover the line. Gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball leaves him.
Out goes Bethell and in walks Harry Brook at number 6. He stepped out of the crease on his first ball in the first innings when England were 8/3. Let's see what he does this time around...
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, OUT! CAUGHT! Jacob Bethell admonishes himself as he trudges off. On the fuller side, on middle. Bethell backs away to go hard through the off side. He slams it aerially and picks out Usman Khawaja at cover, who stays low and holds onto the catch around his right knee. A fine and fluent 40 (46) from Jacob Bethell. England are now 4 down, needing 38 more runs.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Straightening a bit after pitching, on a back of a length. Joe is squared up in defence and the ball goes off the outside edge down to deep third for a single.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, A bit of extra bounce and nibbling away, on a short of a length. Root manages to fend it down.
- Jacob Bethell 40 (45)
- Joe Root 11 (19)
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Going away off the deck, on a back of a length. Jacob plays well inside the line and is beaten.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, On off, on a good length, Root drops it in front of cover and scampers to the other end.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Nipping away just enough off the deck, on a back of a length. Root has a waft at it but is lucky not to nick this one behind.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Seaming back in at the hips, Root is beaten by the movement and wears it on the thigh pad.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Around off, on a back of a length. Jacob stays on the back foot and guides it behind point for one more.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, On the shorter side, on off, Root rides the bounce and punches it in front of cover for a single.
With 42 runs required, Michael Neser (5-0-43-0) is back on, replacing Mitchell Starc.
- Joe Root 9 (15)
- Jacob Bethell 39 (43)
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Angled in at the pads, on a short of a length. Root works it behind square on the leg side for one.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, On a back of a length, on off, Root taps it with soft hands in front of backward point. Jake Weatherald charges in towards the ball and bends to pick it up, but ends up conceding the second run as the ball sneaks past his right hand.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, A fine take by Alex Carey! Sprayed down leg by Boland, on a nagging length. Root misses out on the tickle. Carey moves to his left and gets his hands in the correct position to gather it. He is quick to whip the bails off but Joe had his back leg grounded inside the crease.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Fuller and outside off, Joe taps it to point off the front foot.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Hurls it on a short of a good length, outside off, Root gets on his toes and taps the ball on its head. Plays it away from the man at deep backward point to his right for a brace.
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, Boland bangs it in short from over the wicket, over middle and leg. Jacob Bethell charges down the track but then adjusts to the length by arching back. Glides it aerially towards deep third, where the ball gets to the fielder on the bounce. They cross.
- Jacob Bethell 38 (42)
- Joe Root 4 (10)
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Nails the yorker at the base of the off stump. Bethell gets his bat down and steers it with an open bat face to deep third for one.
Mitchell Starc to Joe Root, Too straight, above the hips, Root swivels for the pull but gets it off the gloves. The ball rolls behind on the leg side for a run.
Mitchell Starc to Joe Root, Fuller in length, at the sticks. Root is squared up as the ball leaves him off the deck, but he manages to keep it out.
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Slams the deck hard, on off, Jacob arches back and runs it down to deep third for one more. England need 50 more.
Mitchell Starc to Joe Root, Tap and run! On a good length, on off, Joe drops it in front of point with soft hands and calls Bethell through for a quick single.
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Short and wide on off, Bethell cuts it to deep backward point for a single.
- Joe Root 2 (7)
- Jacob Bethell 35 (39)
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Fuller in length, on off, Root presses on the front foot and caresses it through covers for a couple of runs to get off the mark.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Drags the length back a touch, on top of off. Joe hangs on the back foot to defend.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Full and tailing back in, attacking the front pad. Root brings his bat out in front and plays it to mid on.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Brings the stumps in play, Root stays on the back foot and turns it to mid-wicket.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Serves it on a short of a good length, Joe rides the bounce and guides it to point.
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, At the hips, tucked away to deep fine leg for a single.
- Jacob Bethell 34 (38)
- Joe Root 0 (2)
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, On a hard length, on off, Bethell gets on top of it and drops it with soft hands in front of gully for a quick single.
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Fired down leg, very full, Bethell is beaten for pace in his attempt to glance it fine.
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, At the stumps, on the fuller side, Bethell tries to work it away with the angle but ends up closing the bat face early. Gets a leading edge that goes wide of point for a couple of runs.
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Just over! Fuller in length, on off, Bethell charges down the track and thumps it down the ground. Gets just enough elevation to clear the leaping Travis Head at mid off, who moved to his right and stuck out his right hand.
Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Just too good! Slanting in, on a good length, on off. Jacob Bethell pushes out in front of the body, but the ball leaves him off the deck.
Australia resumed on 4-0 in their second innings after an explosive opening day of searing pace saw 20 wickets fall with the hosts dismissed for 152 and England just 110.
It was the most wickets to tumble on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on day one of the series opener in Perth.
With 10 millimetres of grass on the track it was a bowler's dream, but a host of former greats criticised the pitch for "doing too much" and being "unfair for the batters".
Nightwatchman Boland added two to his overnight four, but his time was always going to be limited and he edged Gus Atkinson to wicketkeeper Smith.
Atkinson left the field soon after clutching what appeared to be his left hamstring.
Josh Tongue came into the attack on a hat-trick after bagging the last two Australia wickets on day one, but Jake Weatherald whipped his full ball for three.
Weatherald needed a decent knock to cement his spot at the top of the order, but he failed again, bowled by Stokes for five leaving a delivery that nipped back.
Travis Head was joined by Marnus Labuschagne but he only made eight, caught by Root in the slips off Tongue.
Head was in good touch before being bowled on 46 by a peach of a delivery from Carse that beat the outside edge, and when Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) departed in the space of nine balls the momentum was back with England.
After reaching lunch at 98-6, Green (19) became the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 119, edging a rising Stokes ball to Harry Brook at slip.
Carse bagged Neser and Starc without scoring and Richardson fell to Stokes with the last four wickets tumbling for 13 runs, leaving Steve Smith unbeaten on 24.
Match Statistics
Venue
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
