Ashes 2019: Test cricket the winner as Australia draw 2nd Test on final day
Marnus Labuschagne scored a fighting half-century alongside Travis Head’s unbeaten 42 that helped Australia put off a threatening England to draw the second Ashes Test on the final day. Australia lead the series 1-0.
From Jofra Archer’s pace heroics to Steve Smith’s batting bravery, the Lord’s Test had all the makings of one of the greatest Ashes Tests of all time. The visitors pushed the hosts on the back foot from time to time, but England bounced back with venom to deny the Aussies another victory. Notwithstanding the rain and the outcome of the match, connoisseurs of Test cricket got their money’s worth.
England cruise on Stokes’ fire
The start of Day 5 was yet again delayed due to incessant rain that robbed both teams of precious game time in the first session. Once play resumed, Ben Stokes made the most of his reprieves from the day before by notching up his seventh Test century. With Jos Buttler at the other end, Stokes ensured England didn’t lose a wicket until lunch. The duo added 90 runs before Pat Cummins got Buttler to top-edge a bouncer at long leg immediately after the break.
That ? feeling ? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/kdEM030Xah
— ICC (@ICC) August 18, 2019
Jonny Bairstow then walked in with the determination to take England closer to a respectable lead. He and Stokes took the attack to the Aussie bowlers and raced away to a 97-run stand in quick time. England declared when they reached the same total they scored in their first innings (258), setting the visitors a tricky 267 to chase. From being under pressure at the start of the Test to dominating proceedings towards the end, England made sure they didn’t let this one slip.
Labuschagne, Head survive Archer scare
The prospect of having to face an in-form Archer and Smith’s absence left the Australians visibly shaken. Smith, who copped major blows to his arm and neck off Archer in the first innings was substituted by Labuschagne in the second. With the latest ICC rules now allowing like-for-like concussion substitutes, Labuschagne became the first-ever cricketer in Test cricket history to play as one.
To maintain their lead in the series, Australia had a huge hurdle to cross in the fourth innings of the Test. But their batting woes continued to hurt their cause. Their top three batsmen were back in the hut for just 47 runs inside 14 overs, courtesy Jack Leach and Archer’s fiery spell. As Australia’s substitute No.4, the onus was on Labuschagne to see his team through a testing period of play. He did that with great perseverance, but not before taking Archer’s body blows in full swing. His 85-run partnership with Head pushed England back, but Archer continued to hunt.
He is a tough boy Marnus. Nasty ball but showed great body language.
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) August 18, 2019
Just when Australia thought they’d done enough to push for a draw, Leach had other ideas. The left-arm spinner plucked Labuschagne and Matthew Wade in consecutive overs. Archer then got the Aussie captain Tim Paine, and England were once again threatening to snatch a victory. But with time running out and Cummins-Head holding the fort, only one result was imminent.
Brief scores: England 258 (R Burns 53, J Bairstow 52; J Hazlewood 3-58, P Cummins 3-61) and 258/5 (B Stokes 115*; P Cummins 3-35, P Siddle 2-54) drew with Australia 250 (S Smith 92; S Broad 4-65, C Woakes 3-61) and 154/6 (M Labuschagne 59, T Head 42*; J Archer 3-32, J Leach 3-37).
