Stuart Broad will retire from cricket at the conclusion of the final Ashes Test, the fast bowler has announced.
Broad, England’s second-highest Test wicket taker of all time, said after stumps that the fifth Ashes Test would be his final game of cricket.
“Tomorrow or Monday will be my last game of cricket,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and England badge as much as I have. I’m loving cricket as much as I have. It’s been a wonderful series to be part of and I’ve always wanted to finish at the top. This series just feels like it’s been one of the most enjoyable and entertaining that I’ve been part of.”
England had dominated day three. Trailing by 12 runs after dismissing Australia for 295 on day two, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley strode out with positive intent and dispatched Mitchell Starc’s first over of the day for 13 to send England ahead.
From there, the openers quickly notched up a partnership of 79 before Duckett (42) feathered an edge through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Crawley (71) and Ben Stokes (42) guided England to lunch with the score at 130-1 but both fell in the afternoon session along with Harry Brook.
The runs continued to come though as Joe Root (91) fell agonisingly short of a hundred and Jonny Bairstow (78) made hay in the sunshine. Australia fought back at the end of the day taking all but one of the England wickets but they’re 377 runs behind and face a mammoth task to avoid a defeat in this match.
Follow the score and all the latest updates from the Oval below.
Ashes LIVE: England vs Australia, fifth test
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Stuart Broad announces retirement from cricket: ‘It has been a wonderful ride’
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England save their best batting performance for last as they dominate Australia at the Oval
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OUT! Wood ct Marsh b Murphy 9 (11) – Eng 379-9 (77.2)
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OUT! Moeen ct Hazlewood b Starc 29 (38) – Eng 375-8 (77)
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OUT! Woakes ct Khawaja b Starc 1 (5) – Eng 364-7 (74.1)
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OUT! Bairstow ct Carey b Starc 78 (103) – Eng 360-6 (72.4)
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OUT! Root b Murphy 91 (106) – Eng 332-5 (65.3)
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OUT! Brook ct Carey b Hazlewood 7 (6) – Eng 222-4 (40.5)
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OUT! Stokes ct Cummins b Murphy 42 (67) – Eng 213-2 (39.3)
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OUT! Crawley edges Cummins to second slip – Eng 140-2 (26.3)
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OUT! Duckett ct Carey b Starc 42 (55) – England lose their first wicket of the day
From hat-trick heroics to Ashes annihilation – Stuart Broad’s best Test displays
Saturday 29 July 2023 20:50 , Lawrence Ostlere
England bowler Stuart Broad has announced he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes series, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious – and at times electrifying – career.
Here are some of Broad’s greatest displays in the longest format of the game.
From hat-trick heroics to Ashes annihilation – Stuart Broad’s best Test displays
Stuart Broad retires from cricket
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:31 , Lawrence Ostlere
Former England team-mate Sir Alastair Cook paid tribute to Broad on BBC’s Test Match Special.
“I’m a bit emotional and a bit surprised, but if you look at the schedule for Stuart Broad, you have India away, Sri Lanka and West Indies next summer, no offence to those sides but Broad is about big moments,” Cook explained. “So for him to get through to another big moment is probably another two-and-a-half years.
“The one player to deliver, alongside Ben Stokes, in the big moments is Stuart Broad and what a feeling that must be for a player.”
Stuart Broad retires from cricket
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:27 , Mike Jones
Stuart Broad’s retirement has certainly shocked a lot of people but he’s calling time on his career at a great point.
He currently has 602 wickets in 167 Tests, making him the second most successful paceman in Test history behind team-mate James Anderson.
He is England’s leading wicket taker in this series with 20 and will get one last crack at the Aussies when he takes to the field for the fourth innings.
Stuart Broad retires from cricket
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:24 , Lawrence Ostlere
Broad’s idol Glenn McGrath hailed the England seamer as a “true champion”.
McGrath told BBC’s Test Match Special: “It is a big decision but you come to a time when you know. He loves the big moments, he loves the pressure and that is the sign of a true champion. Going out on your own terms is special as well. He has been incredible for England for a long, long time.”
Stuart Broad retires from cricket
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:20 , Mike Jones
More from Broad speaking on Sky Sports: “A little bit [emotional]. I have thought a lot about it and even up until eight o’clock last night, I wasn’t 50/50 but I was a little bit unsure.
“But once I went to Stokesy’s room and told him I felt really happy. I feel really content with everything I have achieved in the game and ultimately the decision came down to I knew I wanted to leave the game loving cricket and my last memories being a really enjoyable changing room.
“I have so many friends and figures in management that I’ve been around for so long. I look around and I have played so much cricket with all of them. It feels like my changing room and I wanted to sort of walk away playing with a group of players I love to bits.
“No, Ben didn’t [try to change my mind]. He really understood the decision. I hadn’t talked a lot about it. I hadn’t mentioned it to him beforehand but I wanted to make sure I was clear in my mind. I wasn’t really going in for a negotiation really. I was like ‘I need to be clear’ before I mentioned it to anyone.”
Stuart Broad retires from cricket
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:15 , Mike Jones
Here’s what Stuart Broad said when announcing his retirement from cricket:
“Tomorrow or Monday will be my last day of cricket, it has been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and England badge as much as I have and I am loving cricket as much as I ever have and this series has just felt like it’s been one of the most enjoyable and entertaining and I always wanted to finish at the top,” Broad told Ian Ward on Sky Sports at the close of day three.
“I made the decision about 8.30 last night. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, a few weeks. England vs Australia has always been the pinnacle for me, I have loved the battles with Australia that have come my way and the team’s way, I have a love affair with Ashes and I think I wanted my last bat and bowl to be in Ashes cricket.
“I told Stokesy last night and told the changing room this morning and to be honest it just felt the right time and I didn’t want friends or Nottinghamshire team mates to see things that might come out so I prefer to just say it and just give it a good crack for the last Australia innings.
“I have thought a lot about it and even up till 8pm last night I wasn’t 50/50 but even when I went up to Stokesy’s room and told him I have felt really happy since and content with everything I have achieved in cricket.
“It feels like my changing room and I wanted to walk away with a team I love to bits.”
Stuart Broad retires from cricket
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:11 , Mike Jones
The biggest shock of the day came after the close. Stuart Broad trotted down to the side of the pitch and announced that this test match will be his last professional game of cricket.
He told Ian Ward: “Tomorrow or Monday will be my last day of cricket, it has been a wonderful ride – a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and England badge as much as I have and I am loving cricket as much as I ever have and this series has just felt like it’s been one of the most enjoyable and entertaining and I always wanted to finish at the top.”
England save their best batting performance for last as they dominate Australia at the Oval
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:09 , Mike Jones
It was not a day for centuries, or individual heroics, but rather a complete team performance as England put pressure firmly on Australia by scoring 389 runs in a day, with a lead of 377.
The start to England’s second innings on the morning of day three could not have been more different than Australia’s the day before.
Zak Crawley stood tall and punched a wide half volley from Mitchell Starc to the cover boundary, and England were off and running, in much the same way as he had played the first ball of the series, strong and on the attack.
From that point, the hosts never looked back. Starc’s first over yielded 13 runs, and they had already established a lead, having trailed by 12 after both sides had batted once.
England save their best batting performance for last as they dominate Australia
Stumps: England 389-9 (80), Broad 2, Anderson 8, Murphy 3-110 (22), lead by 377
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:35 , Mike Jones
Anderson is given out! He’s hit on the arm trying to reverse sweep and the umpire triggers hims lbw. Anderson reviews but ball tracking shows that it was going over the top.
Anderson survives and gets through the over and the day. England lead by 377 with two days of play to go.
England 389-9 (79.4), Broad 2, Anderson 8, Murphy 3-110 (21.4), lead by 377
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:32 , Mike Jones
Four runs!
Jimmy Anderson finally gets his reverse sweep away and picks up a boundary. He then slogs Todd Murphy over to the legside and earns another four!
England 381-9 (79.1), Broad 2, Anderson 0, Murphy 3-102 (21.1), lead by 369
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:30 , Mike Jones
Should Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson survive this over they’ll come back tomorrow with the new ball available for Australia. Broad sweeps the first delivery and takes one.
England 380-9 (79), Broad 1, Anderson 0, Starc 4-94 (19), lead by 368
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:28 , Mike Jones
Jimmy Anderson gets through the over. There should be one over left in the day’s play and it’ll be Todd Murphy to bowl it.
England 380-9 (78.4), Broad 1, Anderson 0, Starc 4-94 (18.4), lead by 368
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:27 , Mike Jones
Jimmy Anderson is taking some punishment here. Mitchell Starc pins him on the arm and then the gloves with a couple of short balls.
Then comes the yorker but Starc flings it wide of the leg stump and Anderson survives.
England 380-9 (78.1), Broad 1, Anderson 0, Starc 4-94 (18.1), lead by 368
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:24 , Mike Jones
Stuart Broad will face up to Mitchell Starc who is searching for his fifth wicket of the innings. Broad gets off the mark with a push into the legside for one.
He’s not thinking about protecting Jimmy Anderson.
England 379-9 (78), Broad 0, Anderson 0, Murphy 3-101 (21), lead by 367
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:22 , Mike Jones
Jimmy Anderson tries a couple of reverse sweeps but hits the ground with his bat. Australia appeal for a caught behind but there’s no joy for them as the over comes to a close.
England 379-9 (77.2), Broad 0, Anderson 0, Murphy 3-101 (20.2), lead by 367
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:20 , Mike Jones
There’s some proper faffing from Australia as they don’t want to bat tonight. At twenty past six, stumps would be called if Jimmy Anderson or Stuart Broad get out.
Todd Murphy continues. He’s got four balls at Anderson.
Wicket! Mark Wood ct Mitchell Marsh b Todd Murphy 9 (11), England 379-9 (77.2)
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:17 , Mike Jones
England lose another one!
Mark Wood reverse sweeps Todd Murphy for four before trying to smash him into the stands. He doesn’t get hold of the ball properly and Mitchell Marsh takes the catch in the outfield.
Wicket! Moeen Ali ct. Josh Hazlewood b. Mitchell Starc 29 (38), England 375-8 (77)
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:14 , Mike Jones
Gone!
Moeen Ali gets caught on the crease by another bouncer. He tries to guide this one down to third man but picks out Josh Hazlewood on the boundary.
England are eight down.
England 375-7 (76.5), Moeen 29, Wood 5, Starc 3-93 (17.5), lead by 363
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:13 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc is going to bowl short and Moeen Ali is going to take it on. Australia have two men out on the legside boundary so this should be a great contest.
Moeen swings and misses at the first two deliveries. He steps wide of the leg stump for the third ball and smokes it to mid-off. Pat Cummins scrambles across, dives a saves four runs.
Starc falls back on the short ball which Moeen turns around the corner. Marnus Labuschagne keeps the ball in play and saves three.
An inside edge from Wood brings him another run.
England 373-7 (76), Moeen 28, Wood 4, Murphy 2-97 (20), lead by 361
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:08 , Mike Jones
Review! Mark Wood is given out lbw as the ball turns and bounces back into the right-hander. The umpire raises the finger but Wood reviews.
Ball-tracking shows that it’s going over the top. Wood survives.
England 373-7 (75.3), Moeen 28, Wood 4, Murphy 2-97 (19.3), lead by 361
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:06 , Mike Jones
Mark Wood delicately guides the ball to third man as Todd Murphy bowls on. He collects two runs as England extend their lead ever more.
England 371-7 (75), Moeen 28, Wood 2, Starc 3-91 (17), lead by 359
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:04 , Mike Jones
Mark Wood won’t block many. He’s the new batter and with Moeen Ali slightly injured the England batters are going to have a bit of fun here.
Wood gets off the mark with the strangest pull going before Moeen hooks Starc away to the boundary!
Dropped! Moeen gets off strike and Wood goes after Starc. He smokes the ball back at the bowler who gets a touch to the ball and saves three runs.
It would have been a great catch but Starc hardly knew anything about it.
Wicket! Chris Woakes ct. Usman Khawaja b. Mitchell Starc 1 (5), England 364-7 (74.1)
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:59 , Mike Jones
This one is out!
Chris Woakes attempts to drive Mitchell Starc through the offside but chips the ball to mid-off and leaves Usman Khawaja with the simplest of catches.
England lose their seventh wicket.
England 364-6 (74), Moeen 25, Woakes 1, Murphy 2-97 (19), lead by 352
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:57 , Mike Jones
Review! Chris Woakes is hit on the pads by Todd Murphy who appeals for an lbw. The umpire gives it not out so Pat Cummins decides to review it.
Ball-tracking shows the ball clipping the top of the stumps but as Woakes was given not out on the field he survives!
Woakes gets off the mark with a single.
England 363-6 (73.2), Moeen 25, Woakes 0, Murphy 2-96 (18.2), lead by 351
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:55 , Mike Jones
Moeen looks like he’s seen enough. He lifts Todd Murphy over the in field for a couple of runs before taking a single off the next ball.
England 360-6 (73), Moeen 20, Woakes 0, Starc 2-84 (16), lead by 348
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:51 , Mike Jones
Chris Woakes comes to the middle as England bat on. Mitchell Starc is very good at bowling to the lower order.
Chance! Woakes pushes the ball into the legside and thinks he’s beaten Marnus Labuschagne. The fielder scoops up the ball and flings it at the stumps, Woakes is miles out of his ground and would be out if the ball hits. It doesn’t.
What a start to this innings.
Wicket! Jonny Bairstow ct. Alex Carey b. Mitchell Starc 78 (103), England 360-6 (72.4)
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:48 , Mike Jones
This one is out!
Jonny Bairstow wafts at a wide ball and feathers an edge through to Alex Carey behind the stumps. From nowhere England’s two set batters have been dismissed with the hosts lead by 348.
England 360-5 (72.2), Moeen 20, Bairstow 78, Starc 1-84 (15.2), lead by 348
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:47 , Mike Jones
There’s a review for Australia! Mitchell Starc hits Jonny Bairstow on the front pad from around the wicket. It’s unclear whether there’s an inside edge or not so Pat Cummins sends it upstairs after Starc’s appeal is turned down.
The first replay is clear, Bairstow hit the ball.
England 360-5 (72), Moeen 20, Bairstow 78, Murphy 2-91 (18), lead by 348
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:43 , Mike Jones
Todd Murphy has been getting a bit more turn in this evening session. The ball that bowled Joe Root, though is kept low, was a ripper.
Moeen Ali guides the ball away for one. Jonny Bairstow keeps the strike with push to long on.
England 358-5 (71), Moeen 19, Bairstow 77, Starc 1-84 (15), lead by 346
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:40 , Mike Jones
The field is set back on the legside for Moeen Ali now. It looks as though Mitchell Starc is going to bowl a few bouncers.
Yep. The first ball of the over is banged in short and clips Moeen on the gloves before bouncing up onto his grill. There’s a concussion test for Moeen but he’s okay.
Starc bangs on in short again and Moeen takes it on. He hooks and almost finds the fielder but Josh Hazlewood drops the ball and gives Moeen four.
Another short one is gloved to fine leg and brings another single.
England 353-5 (70), Moeen 14, Bairstow 77, Murphy 2-89 (17), lead by 341
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:34 , Mike Jones
Todd Murphy continues and lets Jonny Bairstow cut him away for a single. Moeen Ali picks up another single to bring Bairstow back on strike.
Bairstow decides to sweep. He drops to one knee and smokes the ball away for four! England’s 350 comes up with that shot.
England 347-5 (69), Moeen 13, Bairstow 72, Starc 1-79 (14), lead by 335
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:30 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc comes back into the attack for Australia. There’s a little over an hour of play left in the day.
Starc loosens up with a half-volley into Moeen Ali’s pads. Moeen stands still and dispatches him down the ground for four runs! He then cuts Starc away for one and gets off strike.
Mark Wood has a thigh pad on on the England balcony meaning a declaration doesn’t seem imminent.
England 341-5 (68), Moeen 8, Bairstow 71, Murphy 2-83 (16), lead by 329
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:24 , Mike Jones
Todd Murphy has settled into this spell quite well. He’s got the wicket of Joe Root and is now starting to trouble Moeen Ali. As a release Moeen gets down low to sweep away heavily for four runs!
Moeen keeps the strike with a single off the last ball.
England 336-5 (67), Moeen 3, Bairstow 71, Cummins 1-79 (16), lead by 324
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:18 , Mike Jones
Moeen is happy to play himself in. He pushes the ball out to deep point for a single to give Jonny Bairstow the strike. Bairstow turns Cummins through midwicket – beating the close fielder – and take one of his own.
England haven’t changed their approach. They’re still just milking the ball away.
England 333-5 (66), Moeen 1, Bairstow 70, Murphy 2-78 (15), lead by 321
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:13 , Mike Jones
England have a healthy lead as Mooen Ali comes to the crease. He gets off the mark with an edge to square leg. How Moeen bats will depend on the extent of his injury.
It it’s bad, he’ll probably have a go.
Wicket! Joe Root b. Todd Murphy 91 (106), England 332-5 (65.3)
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:11 , Mike Jones
Got him!
Todd Murphy is brought back into the attack for Australia. He hangs the ball outside off stump, finds a bit of rough and gets one to spin back through the gate.
There may be a slight inside edge from Root but the ball cannons into the middle stump and Murphy gets the big wicket!
England 332-4 (65), Root 91, Bairstow 70, Cummins 1-76 (15), lead by 320
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:08 , Mike Jones
That’s good from Root. He leans onto a flick through wide mid-on and calls Bairstow through for two. That brings up the 100 partnership between these two and it came and the perfect time for England.
Lucky! Pat Cummins darts one in at Root’s chest. He tries to weave away from the ball but it cramps him for room. The ball flies off the face of the bat and goes down to third man for four.
Four more! There’s nothing lucky about that as Root nails a cover drive to the boundary before taking one from the final ball of the over.
England 321-4 (64), Root 80, Bairstow 70, Marsh 0-35 (8), lead by 309
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:03 , Mike Jones
Australia are hardly threatening England who will just bat and bat. They have a comfortable lead already and one they could probably defend.
There’s so much time in the game though that Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow are in no hurry to score. Two runs come from the over.
England 319-4 (63), Root 79, Bairstow 69, Cummins 1-65 (14), lead by 307
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:59 , Mike Jones
The Australian captain brings himself back into the attack. Jonny Bairstow takes a run before Cummins gets a couple of deliveries to move away from Joe Root’s outside edge.
The run rate has slowed way down and the commentators on Sky Sports believe England are batting this way to give their bowlers more of a rest.
England 318-4 (62), Root 79, Bairstow 68, Marsh 0-33 (7), lead by 306
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:54 , Mike Jones
Steve Smith is fielding at a short mid-on for Jonny Bairstow against Mitchell Marsh. He’s waiting for a miscue as Marsh sends the ball down just back of a length.
Bairstow isn’t being drawn into a loose shot though. He pushes the ball into the offside and sprints through for one.
England 317-4 (61), Root 79, Bairstow 67, Hazlewood 1-67 (15), lead by 305
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:51 , Mike Jones
Jonny Bairstow shows more intent with a hook shot out to the boundary rider. Travis Head collects the ball and keeps the runs down to just one.
Oh hello! Josh Hazlewood gets one to nip back into Joe Root and pins him on the thigh pad. That one hurt Root who dances around to shrug off the pain.
England will like that though as the ball is still doing bits at over 60 overs old. Just one from the over.
England 316-4 (60), Root 79, Bairstow 66, Marsh 0-32 (6), lead by 304
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:47 , Mike Jones
It’s now time for a bit of Mitchell Marsh. He floats the ball down to Joe Root who flicks him away for a single to bring Jonny Bairstow back on strike.
He turns Marsh into deep square leg and pushes England’s lead over 300. Every run now is a bonus.
Root ends the over with a tickle fine to the fine leg boundary. He may chose to kick on and try to reach his hundred before the end of the day.
England 310-4 (59), Root 74, Bairstow 65, Hazlewood 1-66 (14), lead by 298
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:41 , Mike Jones
This partnership is taking the match and a series win away from Australia. Jonny Bairstow square cuts Josh Hazelwood to the boundary at point for one.
This partnership is up to 88 from 109 balls.
England 307-4 (58), Root 72, Bairstow 64, Murphy 1-77 (14), lead by 295
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:37 , Mike Jones
300 up for England!
Murphy comes round the wicket to Jonny Bairstow and floats the ball out wide. Bairstow’s eyes light up and he drills a drive wide of Pat Cummins to collect another four.
He then goes again and collects back-to-back boundaries to end the over.
England 298-4 (57), Root 71, Bairstow 56, Hazlewood 1-63 (13), lead by 286
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:33 , Mike Jones
Four more! Bairstow sits back waiting for the slightly shorter delivery which Hazlewood sends down. He stands his ground and slaps the ball down to third man for another boundary.
Quality batting.
England 294-4 (56.3), Root 71, Bairstow 52, Hazlewood 1-59 (12.3), lead by 282
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:31 , Mike Jones
Lovely running from Jonny Bairstow.
He skews the ball into the legside and realises that there’s a couple of runs on offer. He calls Joe Root through for the second and manages to get back.
Now comes the reward. Jonny Bairstow is gifted a half-volley and smokes it through cover for four runs to bring up his fifty!
England 288-4 (56), Root 71, Bairstow 46, Murphy 1-68 (13), lead by 276
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:27 , Mike Jones
Oh that’s close! Joe Root looks to sweep but the ball it slightly too full. It almost gets under his bat but somehow he manages to turn it around the corner for one. He’d have been in danger of lbw if he missed that.
Jonny Bairstow has reigned in his aggressive nature and is emulating Root by milking the bowling. Bairstow will be eyeing up a fifty here.
England 286-4 (55), Root 70, Bairstow 45, Starc 1-73 (13), lead by 274
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:24 , Mike Jones
Since Jonny Bairstow came to the crease, Joe Root has been content to push the ball for one and leave the bulk of the batting to him.
Starc tests out the England wicketkeeper with a couple of short ones but Bairstow leaves them alone. He and Root both take a single each to continue their accummulation after the tea break.
England 283-4 (54), Root 68, Bairstow 44, Murphy 1-66 (12), lead by 271
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:19 , Mike Jones
I wonder if Ben Stokes thinks the game is drifting? The England captain is known for his desire to always be pushing the game on, he wants his team to score quickly so that they have more time to play with when chasing 20 wickets.
At the minute, England are scoring runs but not in the aggressive gung-ho nature are previously.
Four runs! Root and Bairstow milk the offspinner away before a drag down from Murphy is spanked through point by Bairstow. This is a Bazball over for England now.
Seven runs come from it.
England 276-4 (53), Root 67, Bairstow 38, Starc 1-70 (12), lead by 264
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:16 , Mike Jones
It’s been a rather sedate start to the evening session for England, by Bazball standards anyway, but they’ve been able to push the ball around for singles and have found the gaps in the field.
Root ends the over with a push to deep backward point for one. Four runs come from it.
England 272-4 (52), Root 65, Bairstow 37, Murphy 1-59 (11), lead by 260
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:11 , Mike Jones
Todd Murphy gets the ball stuck in the pitch and causes Joe Root to arrive early on the ball. He pushes it back towards the bowler and gets lucky as the ball falls short.
A single takes Root off strike before Jonny Bairstow brings up the fifty partnership with a push through midwicket.
England 270-4 (51), Root 64, Bairstow 36, Starc 1-67 (11), lead by 258
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:08 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc is coming back into the attack. He’s not been at his best today but bowled a decent second spell earlier when he dismissed Ben Duckett.
Joe Root thins the ball onto his own pads but manages to get a run. With Jonny Bairstow on strike, Starc decides to come round the wicket hoping to angle the ball into his pads.
Bairstow pushes the ball into the offside for one more before Root taps the next ball into cover and sprints through for one more. Three from the over.
Evening session: England 267-4 (50), Root 62, Bairstow 35, Murphy 1-57 (10), lead by 255
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:03 , Mike Jones
Todd Murphy is thrown the ball by Pat Cummins and will send downthe first over after tea. Jonny Bairstow plays and misses at one outside the off stump before dabbing one away for a single.
Joe Root drops low and scoops Murphy to fine leg with a sweep shot. Two runs come from the over.
Tea: England 265-4, lead by 253
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:55 , Mike Jones
It’s been England’s day so far, they’ll want to bat and bat and bat in order to push their lead as high as possible with two days left to play in this match.
Sonia Twigg at the Oval
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:50 , Sonia Twigg
Tea: As this England side do, the loss of wickets does not necessarily bring about a stifling of runs. Having been 130 for one at lunch, they were 265 for four at tea.
Crawley was out for 71, driving at a wide delivery that just caught the edge on the way through to slip, finishing the series in a way to quieten those who doubted his abilities at the start of the series, with 480 runs at an average of 53.3.
Ben Stokes at the start of the afternoon session was dropped over the boundary for six when on 14 and went on to make 42 from 67 before just playing Todd Murphy straight to mid on.
Ever one for the record books, England set a new Ashes record with their 41st six of the series, beating the previous one set by Australia back in 2013-14. The milestone was reached when Joe Root ramped Mitchell Marsh over Alex Carey’s head.
Root looked solid at the crease, but was not afraid to play shots, going into the break on 61, alongside Jonny Bairstow, who looks to have started his innings at the Oval where the one at Old Trafford finished, with 34 from 35.
England 265-4 (49), Root 61, Bairstow 34, Cummins 1-64 (13), lead by 253
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:40 , Mike Jones
With Jonny Bairstow looking to go on the attack, Pat Cummins brings himself back on. He’s quite similar to Ben Stokes in that way as he’ll always do the hard yards when his team needs it the most.
A nicely placed push into the square leg brings Jonny Bairstow a couple as Joe Root calls him back for two. Bairstow is unable to get after Cummins and settles afor one with a push to backward point.
Joe Root safely guides England to tea.
England 262-4 (48), Root 61, Bairstow 31, Murphy 1-55 (9), lead by 250
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:35 , Mike Jones
Joe Root is scoring at over 100 but senses that Jonny Bairstow wants to attack, attack, attack. He dabs the ball into the legside and takes one.
With Bairstow on strike, Murphy floats one up and gets smoked down the ground for four!
He then cuts Murphy away for one and brings England’s lead up to 250. Every runs is crucial for England, they want a big lead heading into the fourth innings.
England 256-4 (47), Root 60, Bairstow 26, Hazlewood 1-53 (12), lead by 244
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:32 , Mike Jones
Bairstow then Root collect a single each as Hazlewood continues for Australia. There’s a bit of movement through the air as the ball is angled into the stumps.
Hazlewood strays too straight and Bairstow helps himself to four runs with a flick down to fine leg for a boundary. England’s 250 comes up and Bairstow adds two more with a drive out to deep point.
Four! The last ball is banged in and, like Root earlier, Bairstow helps it over the slips to the third man boundary.
England 244-4 (46), Root 59, Bairstow 15, Murphy 1-49 (8), lead by 232
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:28 , Mike Jones
This is an interesting ploy from Pat Cummins. Jonny Bairstow is looking aggressive so he brings the off spinner back into the attack. Joe Root takes one from the first ball.
Bairstow looks to drive but sends the ball back at Murphy. The spinner then gets one to drift and slide past the outside edge as Bairstow continues to stride forward.
There’s a single off the last ball. Good over from Murphy.
England 242-4 (45), Root 58, Bairstow 14, Hazlewood 1-41 (11), lead by 230
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:24 , Mike Jones
Jonny Bairstow is in the mood. He slaps Hazlewood through the gap between point and cover for four more and looks intent on taking the game to Australia. If Bairstow comes off England will score very quickly indeed.
After a few defensive shots, Bairstow cuts the ball late and sends it down to third man. He sprints back for two before letting a short ball go by to end the over.
England 236-4 (44), Root 58, Bairstow 8, Cummins 1-61 (12), lead by 224
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:19 , Mike Jones
The runs continue to flow for England. Root gives the strike to Jonny Bairstow who latches onto a loose ball from Pat Cummins. He smokes it through the gap between gully and second slip and guides the ball away for four.
Bairstow turns the ball into midwicket for one, he looks to have gotten into the groove of things pretty quickly.
England 230-4 (43), Root 57, Bairstow 3, Hazlewood 1-35 (10), lead by 218
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:14 , Mike Jones
The loss of two quick wickets won’t affect Joe Root’s concentration. He’ll continue to score runs at his own pace and try to upset the bowlers.
A single off Josh Hazlewood’s first delivery brings him one and Jonny Bairstow comes on strike. Bairstow looks to be positive, he’s pushing forward and looking to score.
A wide one from Hazlewood is driven through cover by Bairstow who collects a couple.
England 227-4 (42), Root 56, Bairstow 1, Cummins 1-55 (11), lead by 215
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:11 , Mike Jones
Pat Cummins senses that the game could be on the line here so brings himself back on. Joe Root takes him for three runs from the first two balls before Jonny Bairstow is brought on strike.
Bairstow pushes the ball to mid-off and calls Root through for one. The last ball of the over is pushed to square leg and Root continues on his merry way.
England 222-4 (41), Root 52, Bairstow 0, Cummins 1-50 (10), lead by 210
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:08 , Mike Jones
Jonny Bairstow is the new batter.
England need another partnership again. They can’t relax until the lead goes above 300 and with an injured Moeen Ali and the bowlers to come this next partnership is crucial for the hosts.
Wicket! Harry Brook ct. Alex Carey b. Josh Hazlewood 7 (6), England 222-4 (40.5)
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:06 , Mike Jones
Out!
That’s a blow for England. They’ve just lost Ben Stokes and now Harry Brook has to go. Josh Hazlewood hammers a good length just outside the off stump.
Brook tries to turn the ball into the gap at point and catches the edge. It flies through to Alex Carey who makes no mistakes behind the wicket.
England 222-3 (40.4), Root 52, Brook 7, Hazlewood 0-32 (8.4), lead by 210
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:03 , Mike Jones
Josh Hazlewood is brought back into the attack for Australia. Joe Root turns him into the offside for one to bring Harry Brook on strike.
Brook tries to get in behind the ball but there’s a bit of extra bounce there which is causing him a few problems.
England 221-3 (40), Root 51, Brook 7, Murphy 1-47 (7), lead by 209
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:59 , Mike Jones
Harry Brook is the new batter for England. He gets off strike immediately before a single for Root gives him one more ball to face in the over.
Murphy floats one up and Brook smashes him back over his head for six!
Wicket! Ben Stokes ct. Pat Cummins b. Todd Murphy 42 (67), England 213-3 (39.3)
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:56 , Mike Jones
Got him!
The England captain is out. He tries to take on Todd Murphy but gets the ball off the toe end of the bat. He’s trying to lift Murphy over mid-on but only skews the ball to Pat Cummins who takes the catch.
England 213-2 (39.2), Root 50, Stokes 42, Murphy 0-40 (6.2), lead by 201
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:54 , Mike Jones
Fifty for Joe Root!
He pushes Todd Murphy into the gap and calls through Ben Stokes for the run. That’s a lightning quick half-century and comes from 42 balls with eight fours and one six.
England 212-2 (39), Root 49, Stokes 42, Starc 1-64 (10), lead by 200
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:51 , Mike Jones
Shot! Mitchell Starc pushes one slightly too full at Joe Root who drills a wonderful drive down through mid-on and beats Marnus Labuschagne. The ball runs away and brings Root another four runs.
Four more! This one is lucky. Root cuts the ball down into the pitch where it bounces up over the wicket keeper and sails down to the boundary.
And again! Starc bangs one in but Root leans over to the legside and lifts the ball over the slips and sends it down to third man for the third four of the over.
Root ends the over with a single to keep the strike. England’s lead reaches 200.
England 199-2 (38), Root 36, Stokes 42, Murphy 0-38 (6), lead by 187
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:46 , Mike Jones
Todd Murphy is too straight to Ben Stokes as he tries to spear the ball into the England captain’s pads. Stokes guides him away to fine leg for four!
Murphy then drags one down and Stokes whacks him to deep square leg for one. Joe Root finishes the over with a single of his own.
England 193-2 (37), Root 35, Stokes 37, Starc 1-51 (9), lead by 181
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:42 , Mike Jones
The players take a drink after the first hour of the afternoon session. Word has come through from the England camp that should he be required Moeen Ali will come out to bat.
It had been unclear if Moeen was fit enough after injuring his groin on Thursday but England will have him to score some useful runs down the order if necessary.
England 193-2 (37), Root 35, Stokes 37, Starc 1-51 (9), lead by 181
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:40 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc tightens his line and length to Joe Root and focuses on hitting the stumps. Root defends the first four deliveries befor Starc gets board and bangs in a shorter one.
Root is waiting for it and spins into a pull shot that is smoked to the boundary for four runs!
That shot brings up the fifty partnership between Ben Stokes and Joe Root. Great batting from England.
England 189-2 (36), Root 31, Stokes 37, Murphy 0-32 (5), lead by 177
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:36 , Mike Jones
Oh this is interesting. Pat Cummins only gives Mitchell Marsh one over before bringing his off spinner into the attack. Todd Murphy sends the first ball wide of the off stump so Joe Root guides him away for one.
Stokes decides to handle him a different way and comes down the pitch before pushing the ball into the legside for another single. That run brings Stokes up to 400 for the series.
Root sweeps Murphy to fine leg for another one as England continue to play it safe. Just the three come from the over though.
England 186-2 (35), Root 29, Stokes 36, Starc 1-47 (8), lead by 174
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:32 , Mike Jones
It’s a double change of bowling for Australia as Mitchell Starc replaces Pat Cummins. Stokes whips the first ball of the over away for one to bring Root back on strike.
Those last few boundaries for Root seem to have settled him down. He’s got 27 runs from 22 balls. Root turns the ball into the legside and takes a single to Marnus Labschagne.
Stokes is timing the ball nicely too. Another flicks off middle stump pings the ball out to the man at deep midwicket but only brings the England captain a single.
Root ends the over with another run thanks to a nice drive into cover.
England 182-2 (34), Root 27, Stokes 34, Marsh 0-26 (5), lead by 170
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:27 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Marsh comes back into the attack to replace Josh Hazlewood. He bowls a slowish bouncer to Joe Root first up which Root rolls his wrists over to collect one.
Stokes flicks Marsh away into square leg and adds another run to the score.
Six! Joe Root is premeditated here. He jumps across his stumps, sets himself and reverse scoops Mitchell Marsh over third man for a maximum!
The last ball of the over is flicked away as well. Marsh overcorrects and Root knocks the ball past Alex Carey for another boundary. That’s a big over for England. 12 from it.
England 170-2 (33), Root 16, Stokes 33, Cummins 1-50 (10), lead by 158
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:21 , Mike Jones
Ben Stokes and Joe Root take Pat Cummins for a couple of singles before a late cut attempt from Stokes sees him miss the ball as it bounces too high for him.
There’s a nervous moment as an inside edge from Stokes misses the stumps, Root calls Stokes through for one but Cummins is quick to the ball and launches it at the non-striker’s end.
Stokes makes his crease but Cummins knocks down the stumps with his throw to signal that Australia are still in this game.
The batters continue to milk the bowling and take Cummins for seven runs in the over.
England 163-2 (32), Root 14, Stokes 29, Hazlewood 0-31 (7), lead by 151
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:17 , Mike Jones
This is better from Joe Root. Ben Stokes hooks Josh Hazlewood away for one to leave just the last ball of the over for Root to face. England’s best batter dances down the pitch and whips Hazlewood sweetly through midwicket for another boundary.
That may just spur Root into gear.
England 158-2 (31), Root 10, Stokes 28, Cummins 1-43 (9), lead by 146
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:12 , Mike Jones
This has been a weird start to Joe Root’s innings. He doesn’t look comfortable at all and it doesn’t help that Australia are bowling as tidily and as well as they have done all day.
He takes a run off Cummins to bring Ben Stokes back on strike. The England captain blocks a couple of deliveries before pulling one away to deep square leg for one.
A bat change for Root seems helpful. Cummins goes short and Root turns him to fine leg for four!
England 152-2 (30), Root 5, Stokes 27, Hazlewood 0-26 (7), lead by 140
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:09 , Mike Jones
Review! Josh Hazlewood gets the ball to nip back at Joe Root and may have trapped him leg before wicket. The Aussies appeal but the decision goes against them.
Pat Cummins decides to review it and the replays show the ball hit Root’s pads before going onto the bat. When ball tracking comes up, Root is shown to have been hit just on the edge of the line of off stump meaning the decision stays with the on field umpire and he survives.
A single comes from the final ball as Root awkwardly turns it down to fine leg.
England 151-2 (29.4), Root 4, Stokes 27, Hazlewood 0-25 (6.4), lead by 139
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:05 , Mike Jones
Ben Stokes has put the pull/hook shot away for now. He stands up above the bounce from a shortish delivery from Josh Hazlewood and dabs it into the offside for one.
Joe Root is brought back on strike.
England 150-2 (29), Root 4, Stokes 26, Cummins 1-37 (8), lead by 138
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:01 , Mike Jones
England are now facing another testing spell. They’ve got a decent lead but in order to hammer home their dominance a partnership is needed. Especially as England have the tendancy to lose a few wickets all at once.
Stokes take Cummins for one before the Australian captain gets one to rise and pin Joe Root in the ribs. Root doesn’t look settled here, he’s a bit frenetic at the minute.
Four! Nevermind. Cummins bangs a short ball into the pitch and Root swivels beautifully into a pull shot that sails away to the boundary.
England bring up their 150.
England 145-2 (28), Root 0, Stokes 25, Hazlewood 0-24 (6), lead by 133
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:56 , Mike Jones
Australia have taken the initiative away from England at the start of this session. Ben Stokes looked to be open to taking on the bowling but the wicket of Zak Crawley may make him reconsider until Joe Root is settled at the crease.
A short, wide delivery from Hazlewood is smoked through the offside by the England captain who helps himself to another boundary.
Stokes then pushes one into square leg and takes a single.
England 140-2 (27), Root 0, Stokes 20, Cummins 1-32 (7), lead by 128
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:52 , Mike Jones
Joe Root is the new batter for England. He only averages 23 against Pat Cummins so will want to improve on that in this innings. Root sees out the over without too much trouble.
Wicket! Zak Crawley ct. Steve Smith b. Pat Cummins 73 (76), England 140-2 (26.3)
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:50 , Mike Jones
Gone!
Zak Crawley goes after another booming drive as Pat Cummins pitches one fuller on the fifth stump line. He catches the edge and the ball flies to second slip where Steve Smith clings onto the catch.
England lose their second wicket.
England 140-1 (26.2), Crawley 73, Stokes 20, Cummins 0-32 (6.2), lead by 128
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:48 , Mike Jones
Pat Cummins bowled a six over spell earlier in the day and starts off from the Pavilion End after lunch. He needs to wrestle some control back for Australia who are chasing the game now.
Zak Crawley guides a shot down to third man and collects two.
England 138-1 (26), Crawley 71, Stokes 20, Hazlewood 0-19 (5), lead by 126
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:46 , Mike Jones
Ben Stokes shuffles down the pitch and whips Josh Hazlewood to deep square leg. He calls Zak Crawley through for two runs and sprints back into his crease.
Six! Hazlewood goes short from the next ball and Stokes takes him on. The ball sails down to Mitchell Starc at the fine leg boundary but he drops it in an attempt to stay in play. The ball crosses the ropes for a maximum!
Eight runs from the over but Stokes has shown the intent he wants to play with.
Afternoon session: England 130-1 (25.1), Crawley 71, Stokes 12, Hazlewood 0-11 (4.1), lead by 118
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:42 , Mike Jones
The lunch break has come and gone, now it’s time to reset for the England batters. Josh Hazlewood is given the ball and will bowl the opening over.
Ben Stokes is 12 not out and is on strike. There’s two slips and a gully and Hazlewood comes around the wicket. He’s bang on line and Stokes defends.
Lunch: England 130-1, lead by 118
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:33 , Mike Jones
Michael Atherton and Ricky Ponting assess Zak Crawley’s innings so far during the lunch break. How many can the England opener get in this knock?
Lunch: England 130-1, lead by 118
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:30 , Mike Jones
How will Ben Stokes approach the rest of the innings?
England have a great platform as they lead by 118 with nine wickets remaining. The initial aim would be to get the lead over 300 which could come around the tea break if England continue to bat as positively as they have been doing.
Will Stokes declare today and have a dart at the Australian batters or will he decide to pile on the runs and bat them out of the game?
The other option is that Australia fight back, take a cluster of wickets and take the options away from England.
Lunch: England 130-1, lead by 118
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:22 , Mike Jones
A comparison of the two teams approaches to batting.
In the morning session yesterday Australia scored 54 runs, 41 off the bat, for the loss of one wicket from 26 overs.
Today, England have scored 130 runs, 126 off the bat, for the loss of one wicket from 25 overs.
Lunch: England 130-1, lead by 118
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:16 , Mike Jones
Here’s the only wicket of the morning session. Ben Duckett fell for 42 after feathering an edge through to Alex Carey.
Lunch: England 130-1, lead by 118
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:09 , Mike Jones
Sonia Twigg reporting from The Oval
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:04 , Mike Jones
Lunch: “While Australia’s morning session yesterday might have reached new records for it’s glacial pace, epitomised by Marnus Labuschagne’s 9 from 82, England’s approach on the morning of day three could not have been more different.
“Between them Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett had scored as many runs as the Australian number three in just five balls, in a blistering start that saw them bring up 52 runs in just nine overs, before the former brought up his half century just before lunch from 61 deliveries.
“The pair started as they meant to go on, hitting Mitchell Starc’s first over for 13, but calmed down slightly after the change of bowling and settled in to a steady rhythm.
“England have established a solid platform of 118, making the most of the least amount of swing seen in a session of the game at the Oval so far, with Crawley and Duckett putting on 79 before Duckett was out, caught behind after a successful Australia DRS review for 42 from 55.
“With Moeen Ali unable to bat in the first two hours of the match or before the fall of the fifth wicket due to his groin injury sustained while batting that ensured he was not able to field or bowl yesterday, Ben Stokes came out at number three and went into the break 12 not out.”
England 130-1 (25), Crawley 71, Stokes 12, Starc 1-43 (7), lead by 118
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:02 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc will bowl the last over of the session. He’s got Ben Stokes on strike and would love to get the England captain out before the break.
Stokes leaves the first ball alone before defending the second delivery and leaving the third alone as Starc pushes the ball wide of the off stump.
There’s no interest in going after the ball from the England captain. He’s going back and cross to shield the stumps and playing at the ball with the full face of the bat.
Stokes ends the over with a single and will have the strike after lunch.
England 129-1 (24), Crawley 71, Stokes 11, Murphy 0-29 (4), lead by 117
Saturday 29 July 2023 12:57 , Mike Jones
Four runs! Todd Murphy is wayward and fires one down the legside which allows Zak Crawley to nail a sweep shot to the square boundary.
He goes again! Another wonderful sweep brings Crawley four more and also takes this partnership to fifty. That’s just what England needed.
England 120-1 (23), Crawley 63, Stokes 10, Starc 1-42 (6), lead by 108
Saturday 29 July 2023 12:54 , Mike Jones
As lunch approaches, Mitchell Starc hunts for more wickets. Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes are watchful though and milk him away for a couple of runs.
Starc bangs in a short ball but Crawley is quick onto the pull and swivels the ball away for four runs!
An even better shot sees him lean into a flick through midwicket but there’s a boundary fielder who keeps the runs down to just two.
England 112-1 (22), Crawley 57, Stokes 9, Murphy 0-20 (3), lead by 100
Saturday 29 July 2023 12:49 , Mike Jones
Having passes fifty, Zak Crawley looks to take the attack to Todd Murphy. A reverse sweep brings him a couple before a loose drive into the offside flies to the boundary for four.
He gets off strike with a sweep to fine leg which takes England’s lead to 100 before Ben Stokes sees out the remainder of the over.
England 105-1 (21), Crawley 50, Stokes 9, Starc 1-35 (5), lead by 93
Saturday 29 July 2023 12:45 , Mike Jones
Ben Stokes smokes Mitchell Starc to the boundary and collects his first four of the day. That’s a great shot from the England captain who will want to dig in for a long innings here.
He sees out the rest of the over solidly too.
England 101-1 (20.1), Crawley 50, Stokes 5, Starc 1-31 (4.1), lead by 89
Saturday 29 July 2023 12:44 , Mike Jones
The second hour of play has seen the ball swing more for the Australian bowlers. Zak Crawley leans into a drive on the up as Mitchell Starc angles one wide.
There’s a misfield from Pat Cummins and Crawley calls Ben Stokes through for three runs to bring up his half-century!
England’s 100 also comes up.
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