Stop press. Hold the back page. Drag out the dusty bunting and book three more nights in Noosa. England’s men have won a Test in Australia for the first time in nearly 15 years, chasing down 175 to win by four wickets and prevent an Ashes defeat from becoming a whitewash.
Granted it was not a live victory, England merely dragging the scoreline back to 3-1 and doing so courtesy of a two-day heist on a pitch that made batting a lottery. But given the ordeal of this tour, and that grim run of 18 Tests without a win on Australian soil, it was not insignificant either. Though robbed of three days’ play, their supporters could finally crack a smile.
The moment came at 5.24pm when four leg byes deflected off Harry Brook’s pads and meant the target had been wrapped up inside 33 overs. Zak Crawley, 37, and Ben Duckett, 34, got things off to a flyer, while Jacob Bethell showed his composure – and some impishness – to top-score with 40 from 46 balls. Even with a late wobble, it was a pretty clinical chase.
As the second two-day Test of the series – a first since 1896 – this was more bad news for Cricket Australia’s finances. But for all the anger about the grassy surface prepared by Matt Page it was not dangerous. The issue, chiefly, was the lavish sideways movement that it offered two attacks with a strong command of the wobble-seam ball.
It made the run chase all the sweeter for a team that has been hit with a barrage of criticism for poor decisions made on and off the field. Whether it changes the complexion of this failed tour remains to be seen. For Ben Stokes and Joe Root, who were seen sharing a hug at the end, it at least produced the Test win in Australia both feared might never happen.
England had to dig deep, their bowlers rolling Australia for 132 in their second innings by 2pm on the second day despite losing Gus Atkinson to a hamstring injury early on. Brydon Carse claimed four for 34, Ben Stokes three for 24. And Josh Tongue, fresh from a five-wicket haul 24 hours earlier, picked up two for 44 to finish as player of the match.
Australia rather lost their way with the bat, resuming 46 ahead in the morning, but losing six wickets before lunch as they became increasingly spooked by the conditions. Marnus Labuschagne had the most reason to be, rapped on the hands twice before edging Tongue low to slip.
The most telling blow was Carse bowling Travis Head for a promising 46, the ball borderline unplayable as it jagged off the seam and kissed the top of the stumps. The loss of three for six in two overs before the break soon gave rise to thoughts of an achievable target for England, with Usman Khawaja among the most culpable when he holed out to long leg for a duck.
With Jhye Richardson the last to fall – curiously handed the strike by Steve Smith, who finished 24 not out – it meant Australia had lasted 79.5 overs in their two innings – the fastest they have twice been bowled out since Brisbane in 1928, when a young Don Bradman made his debut.
The target was never going to be a breeze, not least given it would need the highest total of this absurdly short match. Kudos to Duckett, who swung hard, rode his luck and put on 51 with Crawley inside seven overs. As Smith said, these early exchanges dulled the seam on the Kookaburra and eased batting conditions a fraction.
Much like Brook’s top score of 41 the previous day, this was not a surface to dig in on, but rather to show clarity and an intent to score. England also mixed things up, using Carse as a pinch-hitter at No 3 after Mitchell Starc had castled Duckett with a yorker. It did not pay off, returning just six runs, but it pushed Will Jacks down to No 9 for insurance.
Already up and running with an early straight six off Michael Neser, Crawley found support from Bethell and a precious stand of 47 runs developed. Though fresh air was met on plenty of occasions, and streaky edges dropped into gaps, there were some classy shots too, such as Bethell on-driving Scott Boland for a crisp four to get his innings moving.
Boland prised out Crawley lbw after tea to make it four down with 63 runs required and Bethell creamed one to cover still 38 short of the target. When Root was trapped lbw by Richardson for 15, and Stokes edged behind off Starc, there were 10 runs to get, four wickets in hand.
Rather than return to the dressing room, Stokes stood on the boundary’s edge fearing a late twist, only for Brook, Jamie Smith, plus some handy extras to take his side home. It was madcap, entertaining fare and a much-needed circuit-breaker for England during an otherwise failed campaign.
But it was also hard not to feel for those who had bought tickets for the remaining days of a Test that is supposed to be one of the highlights of the Australian summer. Questions, one suspects, will be asked.
