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The Ashes Test at Manuka Oval has ended in dramatic scenes, with all four results possible heading into the final couple of overs of day four in Canberra.

England came agonisingly close to pulling off mission impossible, scoring the largest fourth-innings team total in the history of women’s Test cricket.

But it ultimately wasn’t enough, with the thrilling contest ending as a draw.

With the possible exception of day five of the New Year’s Test in Sydney, this was the most captivating day’s cricket of the 2021/22 summer.

Just as Steve Smith couldn’t get the job done for the Aussies at the SCG earlier the month, Australian debutant Alan King was tasked with unearthing a miracle 10th wicket in the last over, but it wasn’t to be.

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Skipper Meg Lanning declared Australia’s second innings in the afternoon session of day four, leaving England with 48 overs to chase the 257 runs required for victory.

The highest successful run chase in the history of women’s cricket was 198, achieved by Australia over a decade ago – England’s all-time best was 173.

The Australian camp understood that a draw would have strategically worked in their favour, with the scoring system in the multi-format series meaning the hosts only needed one victory in the three ODIs to retain the trophy in such a scenario.

And at the change of innings, it seemed as though a draw was an inevitability – Australia’s bowlers needed 10 wickets for victory, but the pitch had flattened out beautifully over the course of three-and-a-half days of action.

However, England opener Tammy Beaumont made it abundantly clear that the visitors had no intention of playing for a draw. She smacked a quick-fire 36 before Tahlia McGrath removed the right-hander with her first delivery of the day.

At the other end, Lauren Winfield-Hill compiled a patient 33 off 65 balls, prompting a journalist from the media centre to chuck his head out of the window and bellow, “Have a go, Lauren!”

But momentum quickly shifted back in England’s favour when skipper Heather Knight came to the crease, fresh off her record-breaking 168 not out in the first innings.

Knight and England all-rounder Nat Sciver combined for a game-changing 72-run partnership, scoring at quicker than a run per ball.

Lanning put six fielders on the boundary rope, hoping to stem the flow of runs – but easy singles became quick twos as England’s required run rate dropped below six per over.

The Manuka Oval deck was offering zero seam movement for Australia’s pace bowlers, with the exception of a couple of deliveries from young all-rounder Annabel Sutherland that crept below the bat.

Suddenly, the target didn’t seem unfeasible – England required under 100 runs for victory with eight wickets in hand heading into the final hour.

Teenage quick Darcie Brown got the long-awaited breakthrough with less than an hour left in the day, trapping Knight on the pads to halt England’s stampede.

But England’s Sophia Dunkley switched into T20 mode as soon as she waltzed into the middle, smacking 37 from her first 21 balls at the crease.

With 10 overs remaining in the day, England required just 45 runs for victory with seven wickets in hand. They were favourites.

According to the almighty CricViz, England’s chances of securing a win had risen from two per cent to 87 per cent in less than two hours.

However, in yet another stunning twist, only two runs were scored from the following two overs, making the equation 43 needed from eight overs.

Sciver then slapped a short ball from Sutherland directly towards Lanning at square leg, ending her swashbuckling knock on 58 from 62 balls – no women‘s player has scored more runs in a Test innings at a faster strike rate.

With England requiring 38 runs for victory, Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy missed a tough stumping chance off King’s bowling, gifting Amy Jones an extra life on zero.

A handful of sloppy misfields from the Australians leaked crucial runs, but Sutherland struck again a couple of overs later, with Jones cracking a delivery towards Beth Mooney at the mid-wicket boundary, who claimed a regulation chance. All four results were still possible.

In another game-changing moment, Mooney snared a remarkable diving catch low to her right at long-on to remove the dangerous Dunkley for 45. It was a late contender for catch of the summer.

“This woman has had jaw surgery just days ago, titanium plates in her face, and absolutely no fear to take a diving catch to dismiss the dangerous Sophia Dunkley,” former Australian captain Alex Blackwell said on Fox Cricket.

The Aussies at this stage required four wickets from 28 balls for an unlikely victory, while England still needed 24 runs.

Sutherland snared her third breakthrough the following over, dismissing the powerful Katherine Brunt for 4 with a short ball that was edged through to Healy with the gloves.

Three overs remaining – Australia needed three wickets, England required 17 runs.

King’s next over featured a cataclysmic run out, with Anya Shrubsole attempting a suicidal quick single only to find herself half a metre short of making her ground.

And the very next delivery, Charlie Dean attempted to sweep King towards fine leg, but the top edge was caught by Healy for Australia’s ninth wicket of the innings. England had lost 6/26 in a dramatic collapse.

As Dean made her way back to the pavilion, the third umpire checked for the dreaded back-foot no-ball, but replays showed that King was safe by a matter of millimetres.

Two overs remaining – Australia needed one wicket, England required 13 runs.

Several deliveries went past the outside edge in Sutherland’s relatively uneventful penultimate over, in which just the one run was scored.

Ultimately, it came down to the last over. Just as James Anderson did four weeks ago, England No. 11 Kate Cross successfully blocked out the final six balls to avoid a dramatic defeat, and the Test was drawn.

Largest fourth-innings scores in women’s Test history

245/9 – England vs AUS, Jan 2022

229/5 – England vs IND, Jun 1986

225/8 – England vs NZ, Jul 1996

223/8 – India vs ENG, Jul 1999

214 – New Zealand vs ENG, Mar 1969

Former England bowler and Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha called it “one of the greatest Test matches in Ashes history.”

“Heather Knight and the rest of that team are going to be absolutely devastated,” she said.

“They pulled off an unbelievable heist. To get themselves into a position to win the Test match — they were only one wicket away.

“I just can’t believe what we have witnessed.”

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne tweeted: “What a finish that was. Absolutely great for Test cricket.”

Cricket broadcaster Adam Collins tweeted: “Well played Meg Lanning, Heather Knight and both teams. In just 10 sessions, they‘ve engineered an excellent, compelling Test. More of it, across five days. And also, crucially, time for multi-day domestic women’s cricket. Let this be a springboard.”

Australia takes a 6-4 lead in the multi-format series ahead of the one-day internationals, which get underway on Thursday.

The equation is very simple for the Aussies today – take 10 wickets in 98 overs.

However, England face the much more daunting task of trying to survive the entire day and avoid going 4-0 down in the series.

The visitors lost three wickets in the morning session before captain Joe Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes steadied the ship with a fifty-run partnership.

But Aussie cult hero Scott Boland struck after a rain delay to keep the contest alive, removing Root for a third-consecutive innings.

The contest seemed to be approaching a draw before skipper Pat Cummins struck twice in one over to shift momentum back in Australia’s favour.

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Cummins strikes in double blow

Skipper Pat Cummins has snared two massive wickets in the 85th over to shift the momentum firmly back in Australia’s favour.

He first removed England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for 11, getting the Kookaburra to hoop back and beat the inside edge, trapping him on the pads.

After a review, the on-field decision of not out out overturned and England’s tail was suddenly exposed.

But new batter Mark Wood only lasted two balls, with Cummins delivering a brutal toe-crusher to claim his second scalp of the over.

A review couldn’t save Wood, who was absolutely plumb. It’s the first time Cummins has taken two LBW wickets in the same Test innings.

Suddenly the visitors were seven down, and Australia needed three wickets in 17 overs for a thrilling victory.

But just to add to the drama, vice-captain Steve Smith dropped a regulation catch at second slip the very next over to gift Jonny Bairstow an extra life on 28.

The crowd’s suddenly buzzing at the SCG – this could be a thrilling finish.

Lyon gets much-needed breakthrough

Wow, the Aussies desperately needed that.

Nathan Lyon has unearthed the fifth breakthrough of the innings, removing all-rounder Ben Stokes for 60.

The Australian off-spinner got a delivery to grip and turn, and Stokes guided an edge to Steve Smith at first slip.

It was the ninth time Lyon had dismissed Stokes in Test cricket.

“He’s been caught in two minds,” former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7. “He didn’t know whether to play or whether to leave.”

Stokes was distraught as he made his way back to the pavilion having survived 123 deliveries at the crease. Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha described the 30-year-old as “visibly devastated”.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Wu tweeted: “We haven‘t seen the best of Ben Stokes this series, but we’ve seen in Sydney what a warrior he is. Injury has not stopped him from playing two gutsy innings on a testing track.”

Five to go, the Aussies have a sniff. England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler is the new man in the middle.

Fifty for Stokes

Despite battling a side complaint, Ben Stokes has shown his class by compiling a classy Test fifty, his second of the match.

The England all-rounder reached the minor milestone in 107 balls.

You can’t stop Scott Boland

The Victorian quick has struck again, removing England captain Joe Root for a third-consecutive time in Test cricket.

Boland drew Root onto the front foot, and the right-hander feathered a catch for Alex Carey behind the stumps.

“There is no bigger reward in world cricket at the moment than Joe Root,” former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7.

“They made him work hard for his runs. Boland’s been relentless with his areas, his lines and lengths, challenging batsmen off front and back foot. High quality from Boland.”

The 32-year-old now has the astonishing figures of 2/13 from 14.1 overs. He’s taken more wickets in this series than Australian captain Pat Cummins.

Four down, six to go. First-innings centurion Jonny Bairstow is the new man in the middle.

2pm AEDT – Play to resume in 10 minutes

If there is no further rain at the SCG, play will resume at 2.10pm.

1.50pm AEDT – Covers are off

Woohoo! No news yet on a restart time.

Bad news cricket fans

It’s raining at the SCG, and the covers are on.

England star’s ‘worst DRS review ever’

He hasn’t had the best series with the bat, but Cameron Green’s bowling against England has been outstanding.

The tall all-rounder has removed Zak Crawley for 77, trapping the England opener on the foot with a well-directed yorker.

Crawley called for the review, but replays showed he was dead plumb.

The Age’s Daniel Brettig tweeted: “Good innings by Crawley but reviewing that is a tad entitled.”

Cricket writer Lawrence Booth posted: “Shame. That was the most enjoyable innings by an England batsman all series. Not much competition, I know, but Crawley‘s just done his Test career a power of good.”

7News reporter Taylor Auerbach tweeted: “That was so plum it should be two wickets.”

Three down, seven to go – Ben Stokes is the new man in the middle.

The GOAT strikes

Yuck, that was a sloppy shot from Dawid Malan.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has removed the England No. 3 with a flatter, faster delivery that crashed into the left-hander’s off-stump.

It was Lyon’s 15th wicket of the series, and 100th scalp against England in Test cricket.

Two down, eight to go. England captain Joe Root is the new man in the middle.

Fifty for Crawley

England opener Zak Crawley has brought up a half-century at the SCG, his first fifty of the series.

The 23-year-old reached the minor milestone in 69 balls.

“He‘s batting on a different pitch,” former Australian seamer Damien Fleming said on SEN.

“This is brilliant batting.”

Hameed falls cheaply again

Haseeb Hameed was gifted an extra life at the crease, but the England opener couldn’t take advantage.

Aussie cult hero Scott Boland has snared the first wicket of day five, removing Hameed with a delivery that decked away from the right-hander and caught the outside edge.

Thankfully, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey made no mistake on this occasion. The South Australian’s teammates give him some love in the group huddle.

“That’s a big wicket not only for Australia but Alex Carey, he’s gone low to his right, he’s got two hands to that one,” former Australian gloveman Brad Haddin said on Triple M.

“You see David Warner give him a little bit of an arse slap, he knows how much it means to the Australian team.”

Hameed’s most recent scores in Test cricket are 9, 6, 7, 0, 0 and 6. ABC reporter Sean Wales tweeted: “Hameed averages 31 in FC cricket … what am I missing here? Is he the best opener they‘ve got …”

One down, Nine to go – England No. 3 Dawid Malan is the new man in the middle.

Carey spills early chance

Oh dear, Australia’s day in the field has not started well.

Gloveman Alex Carey has put down a chance to remove England opener Haseeb Hameed for 9 off the bowling of captain Pat Cummins.

Diving low to his right, the South Australian stuck out the right glove, only for the ball to fall onto the turf.

By my count, that’s Carey’s fourth dropped catch of the series.

Ponting’s brutal captaincy call

Former Australian batter Ricky Ponting has called for Joe Root to step down as England captain and hand over the duties to all-rounder Ben Stokes.

After England lost the coveted Ashes urn within 12 days, pundits started questioning whether Root was the right man to lead the Test side.

And during Channel 7’s coverage of day four, Ponting made his thoughts abundantly clear.

“I think it’s time,” he said on Saturday.

“I think four or five years in the job – having been there and done it myself, and with what they‘ve done in the last couple of years – I think it’s time for him to move on and give someone else … and that someone else has to be Ben Stokes.”

Khawaja’s praise for Aussie ‘weapon’

Usman Khawaja has pleaded with Australia’s selectors to show patience with rising all-rounder Cameron Green, predicting he could emulate Steve Waugh as long as he’s given time to develop his immense talent.

Green has had a mixed start to his Test career, averaging 30 with the bat and capturing eight wickets from his eight appearances in the baggy green.

But he is still just 22 and has shown enough signs to suggest that he’s got a bright future ahead of him, with Khawaja convinced he has all the ingredients to become one of the greats.

“He‘s a weapon, he’s a gun batsman,” Khawaja said.

“He‘s played some unbelievable innings against myself and Queensland and I’ve seen the way he is and he can do it at Test level.

“He just needs a bit of time because it’s not easy. Test cricket‘s tough work.

“He hasn’t got as many runs as last year but he’s scored a few hundreds in Shield cricket and he‘s bowling beautifully.

“That’s just a bonus because it’s unbelievable that he bowls 140km/h plus.

‘You don‘t get players like him very often and I think the selectors know that, they see that we need to give this guy the opportunity and time for him to develop.

“If you do that and invest in these players at a young age, something I think we probably haven‘t done as well in the past, chopping and changing a lot, you’ll reap the rewards later down the track, the second time and third time they go away.

“You saw that with Steve Waugh and I think the same can be said about Cam Green.”

After Australia declared their innings closed at 8/416 on Thursday, England were eager to put together a competitive first innings total in response.

But England’s batting woes continued on Friday morning, with the visitors losing four wickets in the opening session before the lunch break.

Victorian quick Scott Boland was once again the chief destroyer, claiming two wickets in a superb four-over spell.

However, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow fought back in the afternoon session, surviving until the tea break without losing another wicket.

Early in the evening session, Cricket Australian confirmed that Boland had been taken for a scan after tumbling onto the pitch.

The first ball was scheduled for 10am AEDT, but the start was delayed due to rain.

The SCG has turned pink on day three of the Ashes Test to support the McGrath Foundation.

Catch every moment of The Ashes live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

‘One of the most bizarre things I’ve seen’

That is absolutely absurd.

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has just clean-bowled Ben Stokes, but somehow the bails did not fall off the stumps

Coming from around the wicket, Green got the Kookaburra to nip back into the left-hander and clip the top of off stump.

The ball deviated on its way through to the wicketkeeper, yet the bails were unmoved.

Presumably believing the ball had struck Stokes’ pad, the Australians appealed for LBW and umpire Paul Rieffel awarded the wicket. But after Stokes called for a review, replays showed what had truly transpired.

“That’s one of the most bizarre things I’ve seen,” Australian great Shane Warne said on Fox Cricket.

“I’m still in shock. I don’t quite understand what we just saw. Look at how hard this hit the stumps. But the Australian team appealed too. What are they appealing for? I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Legendary commentator Jim Maxwell said on ABC Grandstand: “It‘s hard to believe that actually happened!”

David Warner started repeatedly flicking the off stump during the break in play, showing how much force was required for the bail to even move.

Buttler goes for a duck

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has his first wicket of the Test, removing England gloveman Jos Buttler for a duck.

Buttler chipped a simple chance for Usman Khawaja at short cover, who took his second catch of the innings.

Mark Wood is the new man in the middle.

‘This looks bad’: Bairstow struck on thumb

England batter Jonny Bairstow has suffered a nasty blow to thumb while facing Pat Cummins at the SCG.

The 32-year-old’s thumb bent back viciously after a length delivery from the Australian skipper, and he immediately shook his hand in pain.

“That’s hurt him bad, you don’t like to see that. That reaction is not good at all,” former Australian batter Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “He’s in big, big trouble.”

Team medics examined the right-hander’s hand for about five minutes before his innings continued. England teammate Ben Stokes has also been battling a suspected side strain.

Lyon gets long-awaited breakthrough

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has departed for a well-made 66, with off-spinner Nathan Lyon trapping him in front LBW.

Stokes didn’t even wait for the umpire’s decision – it was plumb.

He and Jonny Bairstow have been relentlessly attacking Lyon this afternoon, but the Aussie tweaker got the last laugh.

It was an entertaining stay at the crease for Stokes. Jos Buttler is the new man in the middle.

Bairstow’s half-century

England No. 6 Jonny Bairstow has brought up a half-century of his own after the tea interval, reaching fifty in 80 deliveries.

Bairstow and Ben Stokes have now combined for England’s third-largest partnership of the Ashes series to date.

Fifty for Stokes

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has brought up his 25th Test half-century, bringing up the minor milestone in just 70 deliveries at the SCG.

He’s been gifted a couple of chances, but despite nursing a side complaint, he’s batted superbly in tough conditions.

Soon after, Stokes and Jonny Bairstow brought up a century partnership for the fifth wicket.

‘What did he say?’: Aussie gets angry

Soon after claiming the first wicket of the innings, Mitchell Starc struck Zak Crawley flush on the finger, causing the England opener to drop his bat in pain.

Crawley was examined by team doctors for about five minutes in the middle before play continued.

While walking back to his mark, Starc yelled across to teammate Nathan Lyon: “Gazza, what did he say to you the other night? I thought so.”

Fox Cricket then showed footage of Crawley talking with Lyon from the evening before, and commentators suggested that the England opener said something that irritated the off-spinner.

“First bit of, call it, sledging this Ashes, there hasn‘t been a great deal,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket. “A bit of chirp.”

Aussie skipper puts down tough chance

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been given an extra life in the middle, with Australian captain Pat Cummins putting down a chance off his own bowling.

Stokes drove the ball back at Cummins, and struck the paceman on the wrist before hitting the turf.

Stokes survives.

‘Pathetic’: Green strikes just before lunch

Things are going from bad to worse for England at the SCG.

Just before the lunch interval in Sydney, young all-rounder Cameron Green dismissed England No. 3 Dawid Malan for 3.

Malan looked to glance a short delivery towards fine leg, but Aussie centurion Usman Khawaja claimed a smart catch low to the turf at leg slip.

England did not score a run during the final 53 deliveries of that session.

‘Absurd’: You can’t stop Boland

Scott Boland’s incredible run of form has continued, with the Victorian seamer claiming two wickets before even conceding a run at the SCG.

England opener Zak Crawley was first dismissed for 18, with Boland getting the ball to nip back past the inside edge and crash into the stumps.

A few overs later, Boland removed England captain Joe Root for the second time in as many innings.

Root swiped carelessly at a wide delivery, and the thick outside edge was caught by Australian vice-captain Steve Smith at second slip.

The England skipper made his way back to the pavilion for a duck, and the visitors were suddenly three down for not many.

Boland has now taken 8/7 from eight overs in his last two Test innings.

Third time lucky for Starc

Mitchell Starc has finally snared his first breakthrough, removing England opener Haseeb Hameed for 6.

The left-arm quick got the ball to deck back into Hameed, who missed the Kookaburra with an expansive drive and a wide gap between bat and pad.

The ball crashed into middle stump, and England were one down in Sydney.

“This is a jaffa from Mitchell Starc,” former Australian spinner Kerry O‘Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.

Cricket reporter Andrew Wu tweeted: “Could have driven an elephant through the gaping hole between Haseeb Hameed‘s bat and pad.”

Dawid Malan is the new batter in the middle.

Carey spills early chance

Oh dear, Australia’s day in the field has started poorly.

Australian gloveman Alex Carey has put down a regulation chance behind the stumps, gifting England opener Haseeb Hameed an extra life at the crease.

Mitchell Starc found the right-hander’s outside edge, and the Kookaburra flew towards David Warner at first slip.

Carey dived across to claim the chance, but the ball fell out of his right glove onto the deck. Looking at the replays, the South Australian probably could have used two hands.

Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb tweeted: “Yeeeesh … that‘s not a great effort from Carey. Buttler-esque. Would‘ve been a simple one for Warner but to me that’s still Carey’s catch. Could’ve got both gloves to it quite easily.”

The Age’s Russell Bennett posted: “I know they’ve not played in many Tests together yet, but Carey and Warner really need to sort their stagger better than they’ve got it at the minute. Almost every edge to Carey’s right seems destined for a drop, fumble, or at least a mix-up.”

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin told Triple M: “When the ball’s in really tight he’s neat, it’s just about making a decision when the ball goes outside your eye line. You see a lot of the time Alex Carey … move towards the ball rather than trusting his feet that he can move laterally quick enough.”

Hameed survives. Starc is not happy.

11.30am – Play to resume shortly

If there is no further rain in Sydney, play will resume at 12.10pm AEDT.

11.15am – Covers coming off

Good news cricket fans – the covers are starting to come off at the SCG. The umpires will presumably inspect the field soon.

Warne responds to Aussie star’s swipe

Don’t try and mock the King of Spin on Twitter.

Shane Warne has taken a brutal swipe at former South Australian paceman Chadd Sayers on social media ahead of day three of the New Year’s Ashes Test in Sydney.

On Wednesday, Warne questioned why selectors didn’t include West Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in the starting XI for the SCG Test, claiming he would prefer to bowl at Usman Khawaja.

After Khawaja brought up his ninth Test century on Thursday, Sayers tweeted: “Shane Warne keeps bagging his own Aussie players. Went hard at Starc – Wrong and now Uzzie – wrong #shutup.”

Warne replied on Friday morning: “Hey champ, Fyi – Saying you would prefer to bowl to Khawaja than Marsh is not bagging anyone. Ps I bowled spin. You bowled so called ‘pace’. The keeper stood in the same spot hahaha. PPS You would need a helmet bowling to M Marsh right now.”

Sayers played his lone Test match against South Africa in 2018. He retired from professional cricket last summer.

Aussie star facing axe after Ashes century

Usman Khawaja scored a heartwarming century on his return from the cricketing wilderness to lift Australia into a powerful position in the fourth Ashes Test against England in Sydney.

After years of heartbreak following his axing during the 2019 Ashes tour of England, Khawaja posted 137 in his team’s 8/416 declared.

And the century has him in line to return to the country of his birth with the Australian touring side in March, 30 months after seeming to have played his final Test.

But despite everything he’s achieved in Sydney, Khawaja concedes he might be dropped ahead of the Hobart Test.

The 35-year-old replaced incumbent No. 5 Travis Head, who tested positive for Covid-19 in Melbourne last week, and the South Australian will presumably reclaim his spot in the middle order for the fifth Test.

Head was Australia’s highest run-scorer in the series before the fourth Test got underway.

“I knew it was one game for the series,” Khawaja told reporters on Thursday evening.

“Heady’s going to be back next game, he’s going to be fit, I’m replacing him.

“I understand the process and I’m not against that process either.

“We’re winning, we’re playing really well.

“In my mind it‘s probably this series it was only going to be one game and then move forward.

“At the end of the day I just wanted to contribute.”

Former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting believes Head’s return to the starting XI is an inevitability.

“Travis has been outstanding in the series so far,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.

“In fact, that‘s the best I’ve ever seen him bat, in Brisbane, and then the way he carried that over into that little cameo he played in Adelaide when his team needed him to go out and score quickly (was impressive).

“It just happens … it‘s a huge call to make.”

Meanwhile, Khawaja’s classy knock further exposed the flaws in England’s batting attack – in one knock, he has scored more runs in this Ashes series than Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed, Rory Burns, Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Pope.

Cricket reporter Isabelle Westbury wrote in The Times: “Khawaja’s personal story might be heartwarming but what it demonstrates for Australia is a more telling one. That the host’s sixth-choice top-five batter can so comfortably reach a century, while Australia’s fast-bowling depth has reeled out consecutive five-wicket hauls for its second string attack, is in stark contrast to England’s own red-ball stocks.

“England have it all the wrong way around; they rely on veteran fast bowlers to keep England’s injury-stricken attack alive, while shoving a conveyor belt of young twenty-somethings into the bright cauldron of Ashes cricket.

“England persevere with the trial and much error of their fresh young batters, the Zak Crawleys, Haseeb Hameeds, Dan Lawrences and Dom Sibleys, chewing them up, hoping (wishing, praying?) that they’re the next Joe Root before spitting them out onto the growing pile of discards.”

With AFP

Australian captain Pat Cummins has snared three wickets in the opening session to leave England in dire straits early.

After dismissing under-fire England opener Haseeb Hameed in his first over of the Test, Cummins knocked over Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan before the lunch interval.

England’s woes continued after the 40-minute break, with skipper Joe Root falling moments after passing fifty.

And the side’s middle-order couldn’t resurrect the innings, with Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler both back in the sheds cheaply before tea.

Day one started 30 minutes later than scheduled on Sunday due to some light rain in the morning.

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‘Gobsmacked’: Buttler falls just before tea

This is honestly woeful from England’s batters.

Jos Buttler has thrown his wicket away at the MCG, charging down the pitch and looking to swat Nathan Lyon over the mid-wicket boundary.

But the England gloveman instead clipped it directly towards Scott Boland at deep square leg, who claims his first catch in Test cricket.

“He knew as soon as he played that shot that he had done something silly just before tea,” former Australian batter Michael Hussey said on Fox Cricket. “That’s just a killer blow for England.”

Former Australian opener Simon Katich told SEN: “I’m still gobsmacked. That was England’s last real hope of a substantial partnership. It speaks of the mindset in that dressing room.”

England lost three wickets in that afternoon session, all of which came from terrible shots.

Radio presenter Quentin Hull tweeted: “Shot selection for the past two wickets, from players who should know better, has been really poor. Rudimentary skill elements of Test match concentration has been really disappointing from England batting in this series.”

Stokes back in the sheds

What an ugly shot from Ben Stokes.

Aussie young gun Cameron Green bowled short of a good length, and the England all-rounder looked to ramp the delivery over the slip cordon towards third man.

But Stokes only managed to scoop the Kookaburra directly towards Nathan Lyon at point.

“Disappointing end for Ben Stokes,” England legend Ian Botham said on Channel 7.

“I think he got caught between trying to go over the top of the slips with it and then ended, it perhaps followed him a bit, got tighter on him and he was cramped for space. Massive wicket.”

Stokes has been dismissed for 25, and England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler is the new man in the middle.

Yet another fifty for Root

England captain Joe Root has brought up a classy half-century, his ninth Test fifty on Australian soil, but he didn’t last long at the crease after passing the minor milestone.

On the final ball of the 33rd over, Root needlessly swatted at a short and wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, with the edge flying through to gloveman Alex Carey.

Root was furious with himself as he walked back to the sheds – he has yet again botched an opportunity to reach triple figures on Australian soil.

The 30-year-old has equalled the all-time record for most Test fifties in Australia without scoring a century.

“It’s a nothing shot,” former Australian batter Michael Hussey said on Fox Cricket.

“You can see the disappointment in his reaction.”

Jonny Bairstow is the new player in the middle, joining Ben Stokes.

Aussie skipper strikes just before lunch

Just as England fans would have been thinking of a potential fightback, Pat Cummins gets another one.

England skipper Joe Root and No. 3 Dawid Malan had combined for a 48-run partnership before the Australian captain found the outside edge of Malan’s bat on what was ultimately the final delivery before lunch. with David Warner took a classy catch at first slip.

“That‘s massive,” Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw said. “It was very close to a very good session for England.

“That is a huge wicket. Superstar, Pat Cummins, provides again.”

It was England’s third wicket of the opening session, and Root will return in 40 minutes alongside all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Cummins gets two early breakthroughs

Australian captain Pat Cummins struck in his first over at the MCG, removing under-fire England opener Haseeb Hameed for a duck.

Cummins got the Kookaburra to nip away off the deck, and the outside edge was caught by gloveman Alex Carey behind the stumps.

It marked England’s 50th Test duck in 2021.

About half an hour later, Cummins struck again, dismissing the returning Zak Crawley for 12.

The Aussie skipper got the ball to seamer away from the right-hander just short of a good length, with the outside edge flying towards Cameron Green at gully.

Cummins has figures of 2/9 off four overs, and England are two down after half an hour of action.

Australia wins the toss

Pat Cummins has the toss and Australia will bowl first at the MCG.

The MCG deck is green, the weather is overcast – conditions are perfect for swing bowling.

Cummins couldn’t hide his smile when the coin fell in his favour. England captain Joe Root says he would have made the same call.

Australia XI: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon

England XI: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonathan Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson

‘Staggering’: England get it wrong again

Australia are a win away from winning back the Ashes and a draw away from retaining it but once again, England have got their selection all wrong.

Four players have been dropped from the Adelaide team as Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Jack Leach were into the side for Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad.

There is 11mm of grass on the MCG and Mike Hussey said he was expecting plenty of movement off the seam.

But ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan been left perplexed as Broad, a man with 526 wickets in 150 Test matches was once again left out of the side.

Broad was left out of the first Test side at the Gabba which had plenty of grass and movement, before being brought in for the Adelaide Test which had next to no movement, and will be again dropped for the MCG match where movement is expected.

Broad had the wood on David Warner in England under swinging and seaming conditions but has not been given the chance to shine in Australia.

“I look at someone like Stuart Broad, in Brisbane he wasn’t selected on that green top there, he’s not selected here,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket’s Ashes Daily. “How England have not seen Stuart Broad, with all his experience, such a wonderful Test career, is not going to be bowling a ball on a green top in Brisbane and now not here in Melbourne, that’s staggering really.

“Those are the decisions you have to make in a management group. England will feel that they’ve got the team to try and compete.”

Vaughan said England’s priorities had been all over the shop.

In a year they focused on the white-ball game, Vaughan said England should have allowed the short forms carry on as they had, but had got that wrong too.

He pointed to the use of Leach and spin, saying Leach didn’t get to bowl a ball during the English summer after a good subcontinent tour.

Then Australia went after him in Brisbane on a green top, then didn’t get a run on a dry Adelaide pitch, before getting thrown back in for the MCG, where it’s cool, overcast and even had showers before play.

Asked later about England’s decision, Vaughan said: “So far the only thing they’ve done right is turn up on time. They’ve got pretty much everything wrong. Selection, tactics have not quite been right. You look at that first week and I look again here, Stuart Broad should be playing here. He should have played in Brisbane. How he’s not going to be bowling around the wicket to David Warner on a green top, I just can’t fathom that with the quality he brings.”

The shock withdrawal of Australian captain Pat Cummins has forced a domino effect of changes within the Test side ahead of the pink-ball contest against England.

On Thursday morning, Cricket Australia confirmed that Cummins had been deemed a close contact of a person who had tested positive to Covid-19. The 28-year-old will subsequently be required to isolate for seven days.

Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first at Adelaide Oval.

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The battle we’ve all been waiting for

The second Test is underway, and it only took one over before Stuart Broad got his first look at David Warner, who is nursing a rib injury he sustained in Brisbane.

Broad terrorised the Australian opener during the 2019 Ashes, dismissing the left-hander on seven occasions in the five-match series.

And the veteran seamer thought he had his man straight away, trapping Warner on the leg with his first delivery of the series.

The umpire was unmoved at the non-striker’s end, and England captain Joe Root elected not to call for the review. Replays suggested the ball would have bounced over the stumps.

Stump mics captured the moment Broad asked Warner: “What guard are you taking? Still batting on off stump?”

Soon after in the sixth over of the day, Broad struck Marcus Harris on the pad and the umpire on this occasion raised the dreaded finger.

The Australian opener called for the review, and Hawkeye replays suggested the Kookaburra would have missed leg stump.

Harris lived to survive another day.

Barmy Army’s classy response to Cummins rumour

After it was confirmed that Cummins would miss the second Test, internet sleuths set about uncovering the identity of the person who had tested positive to Covid-19.

Some cricket fans theorised that the Barmy Army had planted a Covid-19 positive person in the restaurant next to Cummins to cause disarray in the Australian camp.

But the Barmy Army were quick to laugh off the rumour, offering their best wishes to the Australian Test captain.

“Stay safe Pat, see you in Melbourne,” they posted on Twitter.

Meanwhile, veteran seamer Stuart Broad has been presented his 150th Test cap, meaning he will play in the day-night Test.

England will play a five-man pace attack for the Adelaide Test, with Broad and James Anderson replacing Mark Wood and spinner Jack Leach in the starting XI.

Neser the big winner as Test debut finally arrives

Steve Smith will captain the Australian Test side for the first time since the infamous ball-tampering saga in Cape Town nearly four years ago while Travis Head, who was not in the Australian starting XI two Test matches ago, will serve as vice-captain.

Queensland seamer Michael Neser will make his Test debut at Adelaide Oval, replacing Cummins in the starting XI for the pink-ball fixture.

Neser has been on the verge of a Test debut for several years since he was named in the Australian squad for a two-match tour of the United Arab Emirates in 2018.

He has been 12th man on 16 occasions and was the only member of the Test squad not to feature in the 2019 Ashes series, where the Australians employed a rotation policy for its bowlers.

On Wednesday, national selectors elected for West Australian seamer Jhye Richardson to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood.

Neser had days earlier claimed impressive match figures of 7/65 against the England Lions, but it wasn’t enough to force his way into the starting XI.

But after years of patiently waiting on the sidelines, it took an eleventh-hour Covid-19 scare for Neser to finally get an opportunity at Test level.

“Gutted to miss this Test but really excited to see Neser finally get his chance in the baggy green,” Cummins tweeted on Thursday morning.

“He has done the hard yards and is a seriously skilful player. Super frustrating but Covid has thrown us all some curve balls over the last couple of years. Will be cheering along!”

ABC’s Chris Rowbottom reported that Victorian quick Scott Boland had been rushed to Adelaide and will be on standby, although he is expected to serve as 12th man.

This will be third consecutive Test match that Australia has used a different captain, the first time it has happened since 1956/57.

‘Very lucky’: Covid-19 scare could have been so much worse

The Australian cricket team could consider itself lucky that Cummins was the only casualty of Thursday morning’s Covid-19 saga.

As revealed by Cricket Australia, bowlers Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were dining at the same restaurant as the Test captain on Wednesday evening.

The duo were dining at a separate table that was outdoors, and SA Health therefore deemed them to be casual contacts, rather than close contacts. Starc and Lyon were therefore free to play in the Adelaide Test.

Speaking on SEN, cricket reporter Peter Lalor said the Australians were “very lucky” Starc and Lyon would be able to play.

Australian XI: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head (vc), Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon

England XI: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes