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 274/6 (76), MItchell Starc 0, Alex Carey 0, Moeen Ali 2-49 (14) (target 384)
Mitchell Starc joins Alex Carey in the middle, the two left-handers each on nought with 110 still required. A wicket maiden from Moeen.
Mitchell Marsh c †Bairstow b Ali 6 (9b 1x4 0x6), Australia 274/6 (75.5)
ANOTHER! A splendid grab from Jonny Bairstow and Mitchell Marsh’s stay is brief!
Australia are collapsing in a heap! Turn and bite again from Moeen Ali, a flick of the inside shoulder of Marsh’s bat on the way up into his body. It loops up towards slip but wouldn’t have carried, meaning Bairstow must stick out a mitt, right arm out like a chameleon’s tongue. England have three in short order - and are into the tail.
OUT! Steve Smith c Crawley b Woakes 54 (94b 9x4 0x6), Australia 274/5 (75)
A huge, huge wicket!
Chris Woakes strikes again! The Birmingham boys are doing it for England, and it’s more outstanding seam bowling from Woakes, nipping one away off the surface to take Steve Smith’s outside edge. Zak Crawley snares it low at second slip - the two set batters are gone and England are suddenly firm favourites.
Australia 274/4 (74.3), Mitchell Marsh 6, Steve Smith 54, Chris Woakes 2-40 (15.3) (target 384)
Marsh is the sort of player that could very quickly change the equation in this chase, a run-a-ball 30 or 40 putting England on the back foot. There’s a sense of Steve Smith trying to up his own tempo, too, perhaps wanting to get as many as he can before the new ball comes.
Australia 269/4 (74), Mitchell Marsh 5, Steve Smith 50, Moeen Ali 1-49 (13) (target 384)
It’ll be lost in Stuart Broad swansong, but there’s every chance this is Moeen Ali’s last day as a Test cricketer, too - he’s soldiering on despite that groin issue and has found plenty of turn in this session. That’s 202 wickets for him now, level with the great Sussex seamer John Snow.
Mitchell Marsh sweeps behind square for four to open his account second ball.
OUT! Travis Head c Root b Ali 43 (70b 6x4 0x6), Australia 264/4 (73.3)
Massive turn out of the rough stuff and Travis Head is taken at slip!
A lovely bit of bowling from Moeen Ali, giving it some extra flight to tempt Head outside off stump. Head flashes the hands at it, trying to find a gap at cover, but it turns a mile as he drives and takes a thin edge. Joe Root swallows it at slip and England have an opening!
Australia 264/3 (73.2), Travis Head 43, Steve Smith 50, Moeen Ali 0-44 (12.2) (target 384)
50 for Steve Smith, nudging to a deep mid-on to bring up his 39th Test half century. He’s never got a fourth innings Test ton...
Australia 262/3 (73), Travis Head 42, Steve Smith 49, Chris Woakes 2-35 (15) (target 384)
Creamed through the covers! That’s magnificent from Steve Smith, emancipating his arms and putting Chris Woakes away. One short of another half century.
Australia 258/3 (72), Travis Head 42, Steve Smith 45, Moeen Ali 0-42 (12) (target 384)
And ball tracking shows it was bouncing over the top. Good from Moeen, holding his ground with both keeper and captain keen.
Australia 258/3 (72), Travis Head 42, Steve Smith 45, Moeen Ali 0-42 (12) (target 384)
England go up for an LBW appeal as Travis Head is beaten on the inside edge propping forward against Moeen Ali, but the bowler isn’t at all convinced, perhaps reckoning it hadn’t quite turned enough and bounced a little too much. Ben Stokes has a long old chat with the bowler...but the 15 permitted seconds elapse with Moeen unconvinced. England elect not to use their one remaining review.
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