One of many best sequence in historical past, Ashes 2023, resulted in a draw. It’s been an extended seven weeks, with lots taking place in every of the 5 Ashes Checks as Australia held the Urn however fell wanting profitable their first sequence in England.
There was some controversy, which can be an understatement of the yr, however some glorious cricket has additionally been performed throughout the board.
Right here’s how every of the 5 thrilling Checks went down.
1st Take a look at: Captain Pat leads Australia to a surprising victory
It was Bazball at his most devious and loopy. However that didn’t precisely work out.
Usman Khawaja hit a century and a half-century whereas batting on all 5 days of the Take a look at, serving to Australia shut nearer on England’s whole.
In the long run, it was Australia’s Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon who stood highest in an exciting conclusion.
Cummins hit an unbeaten 44 as he and Nathan Lyon (16*) placed on 55 for the ninth wicket to clinch a surprising triumph and launch Australia’s Urn defence.
Australia triumphed by two wickets. Australia was up 1-0.
2nd Take a look at: A ruckus at Lord’s
This was one more instance of England’s Bazball technique failing to ship.
Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow after the England batter incorrectly believed the ball was useless.
His expulsion provoked an uproar by no means witnessed earlier than at Lord’s.
From the stands, boos rang out. The MCC members heckled the Australian squad as they marched into the venerable Lengthy Room. The temper was dreadful.
In the meantime, Ben Stokes went into assault mode, smashing balls left, proper, and centre in a spectacular 155-run innings that included 9 sixes and 9 fours.
Australia gained by a rating of 41 runs. Australia was up 2-0.
third Take a look at: England hits again at Headingley
Ben Stokes’ 80 introduced England to inside 26 runs of their opening innings, aided by 24 runs off eight balls from Wooden.
England wanted 251 to win, and owing to Harry Brook’s 75, they have been almost there till he was dismissed.
Brook batted third within the first two innings, however Moeen Ali thought he can be higher served on the prime of the order to let Brook to play his pure recreation.
There was nonetheless work to be carried out when he was out, however new guys Woakes and Wooden mixed for a 24-run mixture to get England over the road.
England triumphed by three wickets. Australia had a 2-1 lead.
4th Take a look at: Australia saved by rain at Outdated Trafford
Powered by opener Zak Crawley’s unbelievable 189 off 182 and half-centuries from 5 different gamers, so-called Bazball really arrived within the Ashes as England zipped alongside at almost a run a ball en route to an enormous 592.
Nevertheless, day 5 was spent watching rain radars and groundskeepers earlier than play was lastly known as off, and Cummins emerged from the sheds again and again to debate the “bittersweet” trophy retention.
The match has been drawn. The two-1 lead held by Australia grew to become insurmountable.
fifth Take a look at: The England squares sequence is a nail-biter
After shedding 3-29 within the first overs, Steve Smith and Travis Head seemed to be the combo to guide Australia to a historic Take a look at and sequence triumph, however their 95-run partnership ended with Head nicking off to Moeen Ali instantly after Smith reached 50.
After that, it was as much as England nice Stuart Broad, who introduced his retirement at stumps on day three, to return in and take the ultimate two wickets to win the match and tie the sequence that deserved a fair end.
England gained by a rating of 49 runs. The sequence was drawn 2-2, and Australia gained the Ashes.