Ashes Series 2021-2022
Australia VS England
4th Test Played at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), 5-9 January 2022
Australia 1st Innings 416/8 Declared (Usman Khawaja 137, Steve Smith 67, Marcus Harris 38, Mitchell Starc 34*, Stuart Broad 5/101)
England 1st Innings 294 All Out (Jonny Bairstow 113, Ben Stokes 66, Bolland 4/36, Cummins 2/68, Lyon 2/88)
Australia 2nd Innings 265/6 Declared (Usman Khawja 101*, Cameroon Green 74, Leach 4/54)
England 2nd Innings 270/9 (Zack Crawley 77, Ben Stokes 60, Jonny Bairstow 41, Jack Leach 28, Scott Boland 3/30, N Lyon 2/28, Pat Cummins 2/80)
Match Drawn
Australia Leads The Series 3-0
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja
The just concluded 4th test of the Ashes series ended with England just escaping the defeat walking along the skin of the teeth. Set for scoring 388 for a win or batting out 102 overs England at end of match was 270/9 with James Anderson playing out the last over of Steve Smith in the fading lights with as many as 8 fielders surrounding him.
Australia already wrapped up 5 matches series 3-0 winning at Gabba Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide and MCG, Melbourne. They were just 1 wicket away in gaining 4-0 lead and move to Hobart, Tasmania with the possibility of a series white wash. Australia winning the toss and electing to bat did exceptionally well posting 416/8 declared in the first innings after rain interrupting the match over the first two days. England could escape following on scoring 294 all out. Australia possibly hanged out too long declaring at 265/6 in the second innings setting England a target of 388.
The outstanding feature of the match was Usman Khawaja s elected for the test for the first time earning a rare distinction of scoring centuries (137 and 101* in an Ashes test. He is only the 9th batsman doing that and the third after Australian greats Doug Walters and Ricky Ponting achieving this at SCG. Steve Smith scored 67 in the first innings. Star English bowler Stuart Broad was the pick of the English bowler taking 5/101.
England for the first time in series competed well in reply as Jonny Bairstow scored the first and the only century (113) by an English batsman in the series. He and Stokes (66) fighting back to the wall rescued England from following on, Mystery bowler Scott Boland again mesmerized English batsmen taking 4/36. Cummins (2/68) and Lyon (2/88) were other successful Australian bowlers.
England again bowled much better than earlier tests in the second innings reducing Australia to 4/86 before Usman Khwaja (101*) and Cameroon Green adding 179 in the 5th wicket partnership let Australia declaring a second time at 265/6. Khawaja achieved a rare feat of scoring centuries in both innings of an Ashes test. We think even 320 runs lead could be enough. But Khawja was given opportunity for his second ton.
Even then great bowling by Bolland (3/30) Lyon (2/28) and Cummins (2/80) almost won the match for Australia. Zack Crawley (77), Ben Stokes (60), Jonny Bairstow (41) batted bravely. Finally, two of the all-time best English Bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson hanged out for a draw in a fascinating finish. At light faded out Australians could only let spinners bowl the last few overs. As many as 8 fielders including the Wicket Keeper surrounded the English tail Enders England drawing the test avoided the possibility for a series white wash.
Teams would now proceed to Hobart Tasmania for playing the last test of the series (a pink ball day night test)
BDST: 1701 HRS, JAN 09, 2022
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