England v Australia - Men - Ashes 2022 & 2023

Sad to say but this looks like a series too far for Jimmy Anderson.

Friday 28th July 2023 - 5th Test Match - Day 2 - At the The Kia Oval, The Oval - Australia won the toss and decided to field.

England 283 all out (54.4 overs) Duckett 41, Ali 34, Brook 85, Woakes 36, Starc 4-82

Australia 295 all out (103.1 overs) Khawaja 47, Smith 71, Cummins 36, Woakes 3-61, Broad, Wood, Root all 2 wkts each.

Close - Australia lead England by 12 runs

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England's final Ashes Test against Australia hangs in the balance after a compelling battle for control on the second day at The Oval.

With Australia almost devoid of any intent to score, England gradually made inroads in a superb bowling display to reduce the tourists to 185-7.

Marnus Labuschagne set the tone by taking 82 balls over his nine but after he was spectacularly caught by Joe Root at first slip, England struck at regular intervals.

Steve Smith, who continued his fine record on this ground with 71, reversed the momentum and set Australia on course for a slender advantage.

Smith added 54 with Pat Cummins, with the skipper himself then sharing a vital 49 with Todd Murphy, who made an enterprising 34.

The final act was a wonderful boundary catch by England captain Ben Stokes to dismiss Cummins for 36, leaving Australia 295 all out and leading by 12 runs.

England's seam bowlers were collectively excellent, their performance all the more impressive given the fact off-spinner Moeen Ali played no part because of a groin injury. Chris Woakes enjoyed most success, picking up 3-61.

It left the fifth Test of a wonderful series beautifully poised, with England's chances of levelling at 2-2 almost identical to Australia's hopes of winning 3-1.


England bowler Jimmy Anderson speaking to BBC's Test Match Special: "It's a very level game. It feels like it's come down to a one-innings match. Getting into the position we did, we're a little disappointed they got past us. Pat [Cummins] and [Todd] Murphy batted really well in the end. All in all, a really good day for the bowlers.
"We want to get a challenging total to make it hard for them to chase down. I can't see us going and batting differently, we've got very positive players who want to go and show their skills.
"I can't see it deteriorating much, we're without Mo which is a big blow. I would love to see us put on 300+."

Australia batter Steve Smith, speaking to TMS: "It's ebbed and flowed the whole way, we're pretty disappointed, the wicket itself was good, played pretty nice. A few of us got good starts but couldn't go and get a big score. 12 runs in front, it's a one-innings game from here pretty much.
"I thought they bowled well. They didn't give us too many boundary scoring opportunities."

Saturday 29th July 2023 - 5th Test Match - Day 3 - At the The Kia Oval, The Oval - Australia won the toss and decided to field.

England 283 all out (54.4 overs) Duckett 41, Ali 34, Brook 85, Woakes 36, Starc 4-82

Australia 295 all out (103.1 overs) Khawaja 47, Smith 71, Cummins 36, Woakes 3-61, Broad, Wood, Root all 2 wkts each.

Close - Australia lead England by 12 runs

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Ben Duckett and Zac Crawley need another bid partnership opening for England

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Ben Duckett

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Great work from captain fantastic

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It's nearly there

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Yes he's caught it

Slow Australia batting 'worst I've seen from them'
Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan said some of Australia's batting on day two of the final Ashes Test was the worst he had ever seen from the tourists.

Australia were dismissed for 295 at The Oval to take a lead of 12 - somewhat of a recovery from 185-7.

They resumed on 61-1 but scored just 54 runs in the morning session, leaving them exposed to a collapse after lunch.

"They are taking home the urn, but I've never seen Australia play with so much fear," Vaughan told Test Match Special.

"They are usually so aggressive and try to take the game forward.

"They have just sat in to bat a long period of time without remembering you have to put a bit of pressure on the bowlers.

"This morning I thought it was the worst I've ever seen Australia bat in my time watching them. They never play like that."

The "snoozeball" style of play has given Australia a lead but their style perplexed me yesterday morning.

Marnus Labuschange's innings was baffling, scoring nine off 82 balls. It is actually hard to do that!

But England bowled very well, the only time they let it slip was at the back end during Todd Murphy and Pat Cummins' partnership. But other than that, they were magnificent.

It looks a good day for batting today. England have got the conditions in their favour, even if there is a little bit of rain around over the next couple of days.


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Just a reminder that because Moeen Ali was off the field yesterday with groin injury he will not be able to bat for 2 hours in England's second innings.

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A view of the Oval

The Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad to retire after conclusion of series..By Matthew Henry, BBC Sport at The Kia Oval.

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England bowler Stuart Broad says he will retire after the conclusion of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.

The 37-year-old has taken 602 wickets in 167 Tests, making him the second most successful paceman in Test history behind team-mate James Anderson.

Richard Gould, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), paid tribute to Broad, calling him "quite simply one of England's all-time greats".

Broad said he made the decision on Friday evening.

"It's been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and the England badge as much as I have," he told Sky Sports.

"I've been thinking about it for the last few weeks but England v Australia has always been the pinnacle for me.

"I've loved the battles I've had with Australia. I've got a love affair with Ashes cricket and I think I wanted my last bat and bowl to be in Ashes cricket."

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England reached 389-9 on day three of the series finale, leading by 377, with Broad batting late in the evening.

If they complete victory over the final two days they will draw the series 2-2, denying Australia a first Ashes win in England since 2001.

Broad has taken 20 wickets in the series, the most by an England player, and has admitted his own surprise at being fit to play in all five Tests which have been played in just six weeks.

He has been one of England's great performers in Ashes cricket, taking a record 151 Test wickets against Australia.

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Stuart Broad with his dad Chris, who played in England's Ashes win in Australia in 1986-87

"I'm loving cricket as much as I ever have," Broad said.

"It's been such a wonderful series to be a part of and I've always wanted to finish it at the top.

"This series feels like one of the most enjoyable and entertaining I've been a part of."

Broad made his debut against Sri Lanka in December 2007. Last week, during the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester, he became just the second pace bowler after Anderson to take 600 Test wickets.

He and Anderson, who has ignored calls to retire himself, are the most successful bowling partnership in Test history.

"He just said 'are you joking?'," Broad told BBC Test Match Special, after being asked when he gave Anderson the news.

"We then had a hug. It is always hard.

"When I spoke to Jimmy I got a bit emotional. But ultimately we have a game to win here. We can do the reminiscing afterwards if we get the job done."

After defeat in the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia, Broad and Anderson were dropped for a tour of West Indies in the spring of last year but were then recalled when captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took over.

"I told Stokesy [England captain Ben Stokes] last night and told the changing room this morning and to be honest, it felt the right time," Broad said.

"I have thought a lot about it and even up until 8 o'clock last night I was - 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."

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Stuart Broad with Captain Michael Vaughan, became the 638th man to play Test cricket for England in December 2007

Michael Vaughan was England captain when Broad made his debut.

He said: "I have nothing but a huge amount of respect.

"I remember when he first came into the England side, he was just different. He wanted to captain himself, thinking about the game all of the time.

"If there has been a bit of niggle or a hot moment in the game, it has always been when Stuart has been around. He has been fantastic for the England side."


Broad also played 121 one-day internationals and 56 T20s - leading the T20 side between 2011 and 2014 - although has solely played the Test format since 2016.

He took 8-15 at Trent Bridge against Australia in 2015 - one of a number of superb wicket-taking spells that have defined his career.

He also took 5-5 in just 5.1 overs against India at the same ground in 2011, including his first Test match hat-trick as MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar fell in successive deliveries.

Against South Africa in 2016, he claimed a remarkable 5-1 in 31 balls.

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54 of Broad's Tests were under the captaincy of Alastair Cook

Speaking on Test Match Special, Sir Alastair Cook, Broad's former England captain, paid tribute to the bowler's ability to perform on the biggest stage.

"I'm a bit emotional," said Cook, who played 123 times with Broad in Tests.

"You always get questioned about heart and whether you're good enough in big moments.

"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."

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Stuart Broad has been part of four Ashes-winning England teams


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Sunday 30th July 2023 - 5th Test Match - Day 4 - At the The Kia Oval, The Oval - Australia won the toss and decided to field.

England 283 all out (54.4 overs) Duckett 41, Ali 34, Brook 85, Woakes 36, Starc 4-82

Australia 295 all out (103.1 overs) Khawaja 47, Smith 71, Cummins 36, Woakes 3-61, Broad, Wood, Root all 2 wkts each.

England 395 all out (81.5 overs) Root 91, Bairstow 78, Crawley 73, Duckett 42, Stokes 42, Starc 4-94, Murphy 3-110

Australia 135-0 (38 overs) Warner 58 not out, Khawaja 69 not out, Anderson 0-34, Broad 0-15, Root 0-39

Close - Australia require 249 runs to win with 10 wickets remaining

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Zak Crawley, Pat Cummins and Mark Wood all make the BBC Sport readers' team of the men's Ashes


The Ashes 2023: Australia openers frustrate England before rain..By Stephan Shemilt, Chief cricket writer at The Kia Oval.

England were frustrated by Australia's strong start to a chase of 384 before rain wiped out half of the fourth day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Looking to pull off their second-highest run chase in Test cricket and the best on this ground, Australia made untroubled progress to 135-0.

Usman Khawaja is unbeaten on 69 and David Warner 58 not out, with the tourists needing another 249 runs to win.

After announcing his retirement at the close on day three, Stuart Broad was given a guard of honour by the Australia players when he emerged to resume his innings on Sunday morning.

He pulled Mitchell Starc for six from what turned out to be the final delivery he will face in Test cricket, before last man James Anderson was lbw to give a fourth wicket to Todd Murphy and leave England 395 all out.

Broad bowled the first over of Australia's innings to his old nemesis Warner, but England were off-colour with the new ball, not helped by a slow, lifeless pitch.

The rain arrived at around 2.40pm, with a possible 48 overs still remaining in the day. The forecast is better for Monday, albeit with a chance of showers. There are 98 overs scheduled for what could be a grandstand finish to a superb series.

Australia have already retained the Ashes and avoiding defeat would give them a first series victory in this country since 2001. England are looking for the win that would level the score at 2-2.

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just what is happening at the OVAL!!! AMAZING STUFF!!!

The Ashes 2023: England were best side and now look to future - Jonathan Agnew..By Jonathan Agnew, BBC cricket correspondent.

There was so much hype attached to this Ashes series and, over five thrilling Tests, it delivered.

The cricket we have seen over the past seven weeks has been fabulous entertainment. It has been a huge amount of fun and wildly unpredictable.

The Ashes has done a huge amount for Test cricket in this country and has been a brilliant spectacle for the new generation following the game.

There have been times when the cricket we have seen on the pitch has been flawed, but that only added to the drama. The mistakes made by both sides were the reason for the momentum ebbing and flowing so quickly.

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Stuart Broad

England changed and adapted throughout the series. The way they were batting in the final two Tests at Old Trafford and The Oval was different to the first two at Edgbaston and Lord's, matches they lost.

Ben Stokes' side had no choice but to tweak their method, otherwise they would have lost the series. Anyone who saw them at the end will have seen the alterations and know that England were better for them. They still had a positive mindset, but any hint of recklessness had been taken away.

The series ended in a 2-2 draw but overall England were the better team. Australia looked nothing like world Test champions and even some members of the visiting media were surprised at how meekly their team played.

Australia were disappointing and defensive, rarely bossing a game and instead waiting for things to happen.

They should have entered the Ashes on top of the world after beating India in the Test Championship final, but instead Pat Cummins had the field spread before a ball was bowled. On top of that, their batting did not fire, with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne below their best.

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Mark Wood

Australia leave with questions to answer, not least over the future of Cummins as captain.

Cummins is a very fine cricketer and clearly a decent bloke. He performed admirably in this series and it was extraordinary he was able to bowl so well in the final Test despite playing six matches on the spin.

But how can he keep up with such a heavy workload? It might be Australia decide it is not in the best interests of him or the team. The problem is the only other viable candidate for the job is Smith and that opens up a whole new can of worms.

England leave with their own issues to address, but certainly not the position of the captain. Stokes really seems like a man with a long-term plan.

For Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Robert Key, the retirement of Stuart Broad brings into focus that England are an ageing team. Eight of their players at The Oval were aged 32 or older.

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Ben Stokes

It will be Stokes' job over the coming years to mould a fresh group of players, which will be a new challenge for him as a leader.

That will be easier because of the groundwork that has been done over the past year or so. When Stokes took over, England were a bunch of losers - they had won only one of their previous 17 Tests.

It is a remarkable achievement for Stokes and McCullum to have taken pretty much the same group of players and turned them into a team that can go toe to toe with the best in the world.

The decision for Key will be when he pulls the trigger on a fresh start. Next summer, with two low-key Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka, feels like a good time to put in place the structure of a team that can win in Australia in 2025-26.

There is the hole left by Broad and also the question of Jimmy Anderson, who at 41 has not had his best summer but says he wants to continue.

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Jimmy Anderson

He may well be targeting the 10 wickets he needs to reach 700 in Tests, but will need a little faith from the selectors in order to get there.

England are now entering a strange period, with only five Tests in the next 11 months as white-ball cricket dominates the calendar. There are World Cups in the 50-over and 20-over formats before England play their next home Test.

The assignment in the early part of next year, a five-Test series in India, is hugely intriguing.

There is no point asking Stokes how England will play in India, because he will brush it off.

England will be positive, as they should be, and that is what makes the series so fascinating.

India tours tend to be unique, not only for the atmosphere, but because of the conditions and how they affect team selection. Sometimes in India you see certain players, or a particular balance of team, that you would not see anywhere else.

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Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes

England often travel to India with trepidation, but their commitment to playing positively will cause more optimism than usual. There is also the prospect of them taking their entertaining style to a country that absolutely adores cricket, raising the prospect of the Test game in India getting a shot in the arm.

My last word will go to Broad after that emotional day at The Oval on Monday. I was feeling it for Stuart and his family, who I have known for many, many years.

I played with and against his father Chris, so after he brought a four-year-old Stuart to my house, I have always taken a keen interest in his progress. I must have seen nearly all of his 604 Test wickets.

I was thrilled with how it ended which, even by Broad's standards, was utterly remarkable. That ridiculous business with the bails was typical of him.

Broad always made things happen. He ran in to bowl like his life depended on it and was willing to do anything for his team. He must have been a captain's dream.

Sport is about characters and Broad is certainly one of those. He will be missed.

Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport chief cricket writer Stephan Shemilt.

I know, it's 30 overs per session each day, every team has spinners it cannot be that difficult to bowl the required overs.

The times are usually 11am to 1pm, 1.40pm to 3.40pm and 4pm to 6/6.30pm, that's 15 overs per hour...