On this day in 2019: Australia retain the Ashes with a thrilling final day in Manchester
2018 and 2019 was undoubtedly one of the most difficult phases of Australian cricket. The ball-tampering incident had dented their image as a powerhouse of cricket. 2019 started with a series defeat at home against India. There wasn’t an inch of doubt that once David Warner and Steve Smith return, normal services will be restored. The duo played their part in Australia’s run till the semi-final in the 2019 World Cup in England, but their job was not done yet.
Come the Ashes, even though the pair might’ve left behind the ball-tampering incident, the hostile English crowd didn’t leave an inch to remind them again and again. Warner’s series wasn’t too good. But Smith was putting up a show. His twin centuries had helped Australia beat England in the first Test in Birmingham, which was credited as a fortress of the home team.
Lord’s witnessed a thrilling draw as Australia landed in Headingley without Smith but with a 1-0 lead. This turned out to be a game that no Australian would be able to forget, and no English would want to forget. Ben Stokes stole the victory from the jaws of defeat with his stellar hundred. The disappointment in Australia was visible.
Australia clinch the thriller
Going to Manchester with 1-1 would have been painful, but with Smith back, Aussies sensed a chance. Tim Paine won an important toss and elected to bat. England got two quick wickets and then Smith frustrated them in the field for a day and a half, his 211 being instrumental in Australia declaring for 497 for 8. Mitchell Starc, Jos Hazlewood and Pat Cummins shared all 10 wickets as England were rolled over for 301 in their first innings.
Smith scored another 82 runs in the second innings as Australia set a total of 383 runs to win for England, who were reduced to 18 for 2 by stumps on day four. The miracle of Headingley could not be repeated this time as on day five, one by one English batters just kept walking to the dressing room. But, when there’s Ashes, there will be drama.
At 173 for 8, England were down and out. But Jack Leach and Craig Overton managed to hang around for 14 overs. With the light fading away and only 15 overs left in the day, Paine turned his head to Marnus Labuschagne, who dismissed Leach in a moment of magic. A couple of overs later, Hazlewood picked up the sixth wicket in the Test to seal victory by 185 runs. Cummins picked up seven in Test as well while Starc got four.
Australia did go on to lose the final Test, which drew them level with England at 2-2. But, having won the previous Ashes at home 4-0 in 2017-18, they retained the trophy.
