Australia beat England to win third Test and retain Ashes

With two games left before the final Ashes Test, Australia won by 82 runs to retain the urn and retaliate against England for another unsuccessful campaign.

England battled valiantly on day five to win the world record 435 runs, but only 352 were lost as a result. Left-armed quick Mitch Starc took three wickets for the hosts before Scott Boland took the final wicket before tea.

Australia captain Pat Cummins, who took six wickets on his return from a back injury, said, “Three-nil is hugely satisfying for many reasons, but particularly with how the conversation was how equally poised it was going to be.

“This group is amazing at just cracking on.”

The age profile of the Australia squad had been the subject of much discussion in the lead-up to the Ashes, but Starc claimed that the veterans had demonstrated their worth.

The 35-year-old said, “We do laugh at some of the comments that come back to us about how old we are.”

“I’m confident that experience helps you go through your highs and lows. … that is a significant component of all of this.

England have lost their third straight defeat on a four-game tour, losing 16 of their previous 18 Tests in the nation, and losing to Australia and Perth by eight wickets.

The most recent surrender may be the worst of the two previous tours due to pure disappointment.

Expectations included a real contest, fighting words from England captain Ben Stokes, and the hope that “Bazball” would take home the urn for the first time since 2010-2011.

All that was left out in Adelaide, where England abandoned their all-time aggression and switched to more conventional Test cricket while still being victorious.

We haven’t been able to accomplish our goal, which we have obviously intended to accomplish. England’s skipper Stokes gushed, “It hurts and it stinks.”

They have outperformed us on a much higher level. … I thought we did a fantastic job of staying in the lead in this fourth inning.

There was some positive stuff to come out of this game, even though we couldn’t do what we were supposed to.

Adelaide’s king was

England’s hopes were hinged on all-rounder Will Jacks and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith after they resumed with 207 for six while still needing 228 runs to win.

Jacks ran for 40 minutes before the rain stopped play after turning his ankle off his crease during a run.

England fans erupted, but the ground soon became a gloomy place with little sun as a result.

After cutting off a four in the field, the Surrey duo made a fifty-run partnership with the old ball and were soon spared spinner Nathan Lyon, who had a hamstring injury.

Smith slammed both Cummins and Starc for back-to-back fours as the second new ball arrived.

He hit a Starc delivery for a third time in a row and was caught by a back-pedalling Cummins midway through the deficit, which was reduced to 150 runs.

Tailender Carse finished 39 not out and hung tough with the all-rounder for 52 runs with Jacks’ steadier hand.

As the pair kept the deficit under 100 runs, home fans sat motionless in their seats, but Starc returned and Marnus Labuschagne sped away from the danger.

After taking Ollie Pope off the slips with a screamer on day four, Labuschagne dived to his left and drove at a Starc ball that moved away off the seam.

After Boland had Tongue, Jofra Archer attempted to slog Starc, but Jake Weatherald sent the ball down his throat at deep point, leaving England one wicket short.

Travis Head’s third-innings victory, his fourth consecutive Test win, earned Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey the title of Man of the Match with 106 and 72 in the first innings, while Travis Carey earned the honour with 170.

Head, who also scored a match-winning 123 in Perth, said, “If he wasn’t before, he’s the king of Adelaide.”

He says, “He won’t have to pay for another beer [here]. It’s bloody good to watch, but I’m not sure how he does it.

Source: Aljazeera