The Ashes LIVE: Result and reaction from England vs Australia as Stuart Broad enjoys fairytale retirement
England win the final Test by 49 runs to draw the Ashes as Broad, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes take key wickets on day five at the Oval
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Your support makes all the difference.Stuart Broad produced a fairytale finish to his career as he took the final two wickets to give England cricket victory over Australia cricket by 49 runs in the fifth Test and snatch an Ashes series draw.
The 603rd and 604th scalps of Broad’s Test career ensured Ben Stokes’ side levelled the series at 2-2 with Australia all out for 334 to end a thrilling series in style.
Broad, who announced during the Test that he will retire from cricket after the series, left the field alongside Moeen Ali, who is also expected to retire from red-ball cricket following this match, to a standing ovation from the Oval crowd
Follow the result and reaction from a thrilling day five at the Oval below.
Australia 198/3 (55), Travis Head 14, Steve Smith 17, Stuart Broad 0-32 (12) (target 384)
And Australia are past the halfway point of this chase as their middle order try to settle in, Travis Head tucking tidily off his toes and beating the square leg sweeper to his right.
Australia 191/3 (54), Travis Head 8, Steve Smith 16, James Anderson 0-44 (12) (target 384)
These two were Australia’s centurions in the World Test Championship final at the Oval at the start of June, of course, sharing a partnership of 285. Head finds his favourite backward point area off the front foot as Anderson overpitches, a slightly squirted drive nonetheless struck with the requisite energy to scuttle away to the fence.
Australia 185/3 (53), Travis Head 3, Steve Smith 15, Stuart Broad 0-25 (11) (target 384)
A back-foot force from Travis Head pierces point, but he’s beaten twice in succession attempting a similar shot, his eagerness to get bat on ball evident as he thrusts at it outside off.
Australia 183/3 (52), Travis Head 1, Steve Smith 15, James Anderson 0-38 (11) (target 384)
A crunching on-drive! Decisive strokeplay from Steve Smith, who bludgeoned James Anderson a couple of times through mid-on in the first innings and frees the arms here, finding an open alleyway straight of the fielder and collecting his third boundary.
A double change for England - on their final day together in Test cricket, it’s Anderson and Broad in partnership.
Australia 175/3 (51.1), Travis Head 1, Steve Smith 11, James Anderson 0-34 (10.1) (target 384)
A day like this would usually be one for James Anderson to come to the fore, but yesterday’s birthday boy has had to bide his time. Here he is, with a fair bit of strapping around his right elbow.
Australia 175/3 (51), Travis Head 1, Steve Smith 11, Mark Wood 1-25 (6) (target 384)
England have been eager to go at Travis Head’s chin in this series, perhaps overly so given the left-hander’s past struggles against the seaming and swinging ball, including a rather tough stint at Hove having been a much trumpeted overseas signing for Sussex a few years ago. A beauty from Stuart Broad got Head caught behind in the first innings, the seamer probing at the top of off, and that seems like it’ll be the early plan of attack here - the first ball of Mark Wood’s over comes back late to find a delicate area and leave Head adjusting his box.
More swing later in the over draws a leading edge from Steve Smith - England are right on top with Australia rather in need of the drinks break.
Australia 173/3 (50), Travis Head 0, Steve Smith 10, Chris Woakes 2-24 (11) (target 384)
A dream morning for England so far, this volatile series swinging in their direction again. Speaking of swinging, that’s bold from Steve Smith, whacking Chris Woakes over extra cover for four. Smith takes out his trowel and taps at the surface, hinting that he felt that misbehaved - and the replay confirms as much, a jump out of footmark on a half-volley length outside off stump.
OUT! Marnus Labuschagne c Crawley b Wood 13 (33b 2x4 0x6), Australia 169/3 (49)
Scooped up at second slip!
It’s a third in the first hour for England! Mark Wood finds his line and length, his typical wide-of-the-crease angle extracting a defensive jab outside off stump from Marnus Labuschagne. The batter’s hands are reasonably soft and that leaves plenty for Zak Crawley to do on the lunge in the cordon - but as they have been all series, the Kentish man’s hands are secure.
Australia 169/2 (48.4), Marnus Labuschagne 13, Steve Smith 6, Mark Wood 0-23 (4.4) (target 384)
Wahey! Mark Wood bangs in a ball that takes off, trampolining over Marnus Labuschagne and leaving Jonny Bairstow needing a step-ladder to have a hope of cutting it off. Five wides.
Australia 164/2 (48), Marnus Labuschagne 13, Steve Smith 6, Chris Woakes 2-20 (10) (target 384)
Woakes and Wood together for now, their injection into this series having proved a real pivot point. Woakes now has 17 in the series in just three Tests, one of which was slightly curtailed by rain, again proving himself such a reliable performer when enjoying home comforts.
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