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Lunchtime studying
Tanya Aldred talks to the nice Neil Harvey, the lover of the all-conquering Invincibles.
Lunch: England path by 103
seventeenth over: England 80-1 (Duckett 40, Bethell 28) The final over earlier than lunch, bowled by Inexperienced, passes with out incident. England had a great morning session, though they’re nonetheless miles behind within the sport.
Ben Duckett performed with intent – and rode his luck – to achieve his highest rating of the sequence, whereas Jacob Bethell confirmed why a few of us are obsessive about him by making a serene 28 not out.
Each time I watch Bethell I consider Alex Ferguson’s quote a few younger Paul Scholes; If he doesn’t make it, we’d as effectively all pack up and go dwelling.
Australia have been good fairly than nice with the ball. They bowled some vicious deliveries, and Mitchell Starc’s inswinger to get Zak Crawley was a magnificence, however there was some free stuff as effectively. One of the best bowler was in all probability Scott Boland, who gave Bethell the Line of Obligation interrogation room therapy throughout a superb spell of 4-1-5-0.
Duckett dropped by Inexperienced on 38
sixteenth over: England 77-1 (Duckett 39, Bethell 27) Neser returns for a single over earlier than lunch. Duckett gloves a nasty, seaming lifter and is dropped by Inexperienced at second slip. Oof, that’s a foul drop, not least as a result of he dived in entrance of Steve Smith at first slip. The poor man is having the hardest time of his Take a look at profession and now even his bucket arms have let him down.
“Cameron Inexperienced is gonna get dropped, identical to that catch?” says Andew Bartlett. “Too quickly?”
Man, that’s chilly.
fifteenth over: England 76-1 (Duckett 38, Bethell 27) Bethell began smiling when he obtained to his toes, and never in a nervous manner. That speaks to a uncommon temperament. When play resumes, Inexperienced rams in a bumper and Bethell snaps his head out of the best way like Robin Smith in his magnificent pomp.
14.5 overs: England 76-1 (Duckett 38, Bethell 27) Inexperienced’s good balls are excellent, however there’s an excessive amount of free stuff and Duckett laces an overpitched supply via further cowl for 4. That is now his highest rating of the sequence.
The nice ball comes later within the over, a monstrous lifter that hits Bethell on the facet of the helmet, knocks him off his toes and flies over the slips for 4 leg-byes. Bethell shall be checked for concussion. That was a brutal supply, like one thing from Fireplace in Babylon.
14th over: England 65-1 (Duckett 32, Bethell 26) Bethell slashes Starc for a few boundaries between sq. on the off facet – the primary one was barely streaky however secure sufficient. I’ll weep with pleasure if he makes a ce- no, I can’t go there.
thirteenth over: England 57-1 (Duckett 32, Bethell 18) Cam Inexperienced replaces Neser and is pulled brusquely for 4 by Duckett. That brings up England’s fifty and reduces the deficit to 130. The Ashes are solely jolly effectively coming dwelling!
Duckett will get a bit fortunate when a size ball hits him on the underside hand and loops to security on the off facet. Inexperienced’s top ought to make him a bone-jarring proposition on a pitch that’s barely uneven. Not, nevertheless, if he rams the ball midway down. Duckett jumps throughout one other quick ball, pulling it for 4 to maneuver into the flirty thirties. These runs additionally convey up a great fifty partnership with Bethell.
“Howdy from Sydney the place it’s severely scorching and humid this morning,” writes your pal and mine, Emma John. “Getting the tram to the bottom was like rush hour on the Northern Line, if everybody at Clapham North had turn into incomprehensibly obsessive about Matthew Potts.
“Lastly got here to the top of my multi-state tour of Australian cricket museums this week and the decision is in – MCG wins arms down, the Bradman Museum in Bowral is a worthy second and honourable point out should go to the Harrow Discovery Centre in the midst of the Victorian outback, which tells the great story of the 1868 Aboriginal touring XI and retains Johnny Mullagh’s legacy alive. They even let me strive on the Mullagh Medal, offered to the MCG Take a look at’s PoM, and had solely simply come off Josh Tongue’s neck…”
twelfth over: England 49-1 (Duckett 24, Bethell 18) Duckett clips Starc crisply via midwicket for 4. He’s within the twenties for the sixth time within the sequence; the issue has been getting previous 34. In statistical phrases, Duckett’s sequence has been a wierd cousin of Mark Ramprakash’s debut towards the West Indies in 1991 – even when Ramps had a strike charge of 28 to Duckett’s 94. Urgh, Ramps batted so fantastically in that sequence; why the hell did England go away him out in New Zealand the next winter.
“Value noting additionally that Ollie Robinson has spent the final two months enjoying grade cricket at College of Sydney,” says Hugh Boyce, “and because of some histrionics in 2023 is completely poised to take Stuart Broad’s function of pantomime villain.”
Who might neglect these nude nuts.
eleventh over: England 42-1 (Duckett 19, Bethell 18) Beautiful stroke from Bethell, who occasions Neser between further cowl and mid off with only a mild push of the bat. That’s his second boundary; he’s enjoying properly.
tenth over: England 36-1 (Duckett 19, Bethell 12) Starc adjustments ends to interchange Boland and virtually takes Duckett’s nostril off with a ferocious lifter. Madon! Duckett widens his eyes and appears on the pitch; Starc smiles broadly.
Drinks: England path by 149 runs
ninth over: England 34-1 (Duckett 17, Bethell 12) Neser bowls 5 successive dot balls to Bethell, who’s defending with calm authority. Whether or not he’s attacking or defending, Bethell passes each eye Take a look at going. All he must do now could be rating a first-class century.
“The opposite NZ bowler might be Lockie Ferguson,” says Dean Kinsella. “Although I reckon he ought to actually be taking the brand new ball for Scotland with a reputation like that.”
L and J are fairly shut on the keypad. (My inside pedant, a vile and unfeeling beast, wish to politely level out that Ferguson doesn’t actually play Take a look at cricket.)
eighth over: England 33-1 (Duckett 16, Bethell 12) Boland’s accuracy and seam motion are so compelling that we typically neglect how a lot raise he will get. He seems to be extraordinarily disagreeable to face when he will get the odd ball to kick from a size. After Duckett is hit excessive on the bat, Bethell sways out of the best way of a bouncer that flies over Carey for 4 byes.
“Haha we could rank the worst moments of this sequence?” says a disconcertingly chipper Max Williams. “Or the dumbest pictures? Or probably the most inane platitude spouted by the English administration? (Smith dropping Head in Brisbane, Brook 2nd innings at Perth, ‘If something we skilled an excessive amount of’.)
“Right here’s a query: if England had taken all their catches, would they’ve received the sequence? Brainless batting, wayward bowling and all. When it comes to internet run contribution – runs scored by you vs an Australian after you dropped them – Smith and Duckett is likely to be working within the damaging.”
First you ask me to Rank and Price, now you need me to Have a look at the Knowledge!
seventh over: England 26-1 (Duckett 15, Bethell 10) Michael Neser, a part of that Thirtysomething XI, replaces Mitchell Starc. His second ball is just too straight and clipped stylishly via midwicket for 4 by Bethell. I can not wait to see how he develops within the 18 months between now and the return Ashes sequence.
“Oh the symbolism of Ben Stokes, worn down by the cares of captaincy, forlornly leaving the sphere with groin knack, while poor Zak Crawley is hoist with out even waving his petard,” writes Brian Withington. “Alas and alack, however can Ben Duckett lastly counter assault?”
This sorry scene makes me wish to shout… what was that Eminem music referred to as once more?
sixth over: England 18-1 (Duckett 14, Bethell 3) Bethell likes to differ his method relying on situations and the match state of affairs. Right now he’s attempting to outlive, enjoying for his off stump, and has reached 3 from 19 balls. Duckett has 14 from 15.
“In addition to the small print of England’s alternatives, I believe it’s time for a reassessment of the pool they decide from,” says Tom Hopkins. “I simply don’t consider there aren’t equivalents of Webster and Neser on the market and but evidently solely vivid younger issues want apply.
“For a variety of causes, I believe the England arrange must reconnect with the county sport and I’d put their seeming lack of curiosity on this on the ‘time to go’ facet of the McCullum and Key scales.”
That’s a great level, however I believe it predates this administration crew. Australia have used uncapped thirtysomethings quite a bit higher than England for many years. In truth, right here’s an XI of Australian thirtysomething who’ve made their Take a look at debut within the Twenty first century. Have a look at that assault!
Chris Rogers, Jake Weatherald, Brad Hodge, Adam Voges, Mike Hussey, Beau Webster, Alex Carey or Brad Haddin (wk), Michael Neser, Ryan Harris, Stuart Clark, Scott Boland.
England can’t even put out an XI. They’ve solely six gamers who qualify: Mark Stoneman, Joe Denly, Sam Billings, Martin Saggers, Shaun Udal and Jon Lewis.
Is it too late to name up Darren Stevens?
fifth over: England 17-1 (Duckett 14, Bethell 2) Starc swerves a jaffa previous Duckett’s outdoors edge. Until the participant of the sequence award might be shared, I’d give it to Starc for his affect with ball and bat when the sequence was nonetheless stay. He has by no means bowled higher than he did in 2025 and, although he turns 36 in January, quick bowlers final for much longer lately. It’ll be an enormous shock if he isn’t main the assault when Australia go to India and England subsequent 12 months.
4th over: England 15-1 (Duckett 13, Bethell 1) Bethell is crushed by some further bounce from Boland, then tries to model it out by swivelling in his follow-through as if he was leaving the ball all alongside. Boland is interrogating Bethell’s approach, from from across the wicket after which from again over. An outstanding over ends with Bethell edging a defensive push simply in need of slip.
Let’s briefly intensify the constructive for England: even when he’s out to the following ball he faces, Jacob Bethell could have realized a lot from enjoying in these two Exams.
“You talked about earlier that you simply assume a greater model of England’s method can nonetheless trigger issues for any facet,” says Martin O’Donovan-Wright. “I sort of agree, however that’s so long as we’re limiting the dialogue to batting, which is normally what individuals consider within the interminable Bazball debate. Nevertheless it’s the bowling as a lot because the batting that’s at situation, and England by no means appear to have the ability to subject their finest bowling lineup because of accidents. Till that occurs, it virtually makes the remainder of the talk redundant. And sadly, I don’t assume the prime bowling unit that they needed to subject will ever function as a unit once more.”
That’s an excellent level. England have misplaced practically 2000 Take a look at wickets for the reason that 2023 Ashes, one thing that was misplaced within the pleasure of getting 5 bowlers who might hit 90mph. It’s not simply the bowlers; they should discover a coach as effectively. I’d ask Anderson and Broad in the event that they fancy sharing the job.
We in all probability have to neglect the thought of a first-choice bowling assault; it’s simply not life like any extra. That stated, I do assume the tempo assault will look quite a bit completely different if England can lock in a new-ball knowledgeable. In unrelated information, Oliver Edward Robinson (born 1 December 1993) is an English skilled cricketer. In home cricket, he performs for Sussex as a right-arm medium-pace bowler, having beforehand performed for Yorkshire and Hampshire. He made his Take a look at debut for England in 2021, and performed 20 matches.
third over: England 15-1 (Duckett 13, Bethell 1) Duckett uppercuts Starc intentionally for a one-bounce 4, then lasers one other boundary via further cowl. He seems to be within the temper to have a little bit of enjoyable.
“Why is Ollie Robinson being picked unlikely?” wonders Peter Kelly. “What have I missed?”
It’s an advanced case: lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous. There was a wonderful dialogue about it on the Wisden podcast just a few weeks in the past.
2nd over: England 5-1 (Duckett 4, Bethell 0) Scott Boland opens the bowling for the primary time since Perth. He’s been the unsung hero of Australia’s triumph and helped form the sequence with excellent spells on day two at Perth and day three (I believe) at Brisbane. He beats Bethell with a ball that retains low and is, for England, mercifully large of the stumps.
“I’m not a fan of Cam Inexperienced enjoying at 5. I really feel the largest downside he’s coping with is the sky-high expectations foisted onto him,” writes Rowan Sweeney. “Yesterday, he regarded snug at 7/8 (on a really placid deck, admittedly). If we simply left him there and accepted him as a world class gully fielder who’s a better-than-average bowler and a better-than-average batter, we’d see the most-better-than-average of him.”
I believe you’re proper about him at No5, however you possibly can’t have him as a bits-and-pieces participant, certainly? Perhaps you simply decide to choosing one in all Inexperienced or Webster and provides someone else an honest run at No5.
1st over: England 4-1 (Duckett 3, Bethell 0) Jacob Bethell arrives for one more day at Massive Faculty.
Crawley ends a irritating sequence with 273 runs at 27.30. Starc, who’s having the sequence of his life, isn’t completed but: he has 29 wickets at 18.96.
“Kia ora Rob, from Rotorua in Aotearoa/New Zealand,” writes Graeme Simpson. “Due to you and your OBO colleagues for staying up late. All the time an effective way to comply with the cricket. With particular curiosity because the Black Caps have a three-Take a look at sequence with England arising.
“If – and it’s an enormous if – most of our entrance line bowling line up are match, then, they are going to be actual bother for England. Plus there’s depth in our batting, too. At the very least you’ll be capable of comply with that sequence within the day time. Finest needs for 2026, mate.”
And to you. That sequence may very well be a great deal of enjoyable. I’d like to see a tempo assault of Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and Kyle/Jamieson/Jacob Duffy/Zak Foulkes/someone else I’ve forgotten. O’Rourke regarded sensational towards England in 2024.
WICKET! England 4-1 (Crawley LBW b Starc 1)
Mitchell Starc has bookended the sequence by dismissing Zak Crawley within the first over. Crawley supplied no stroke to a ball that swung again to hit the flap of the pad and was given out LBW by Ahsan Raza.
Crawley reviewed within the hope it didn’t swing again sufficient – however it was umpire’s name and Crawley is on his manner. Not an excellent shot, it’s true, however it was a beautiful piece of bowling.
For the final time on this sequence, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett stroll out to face the music. Duckett is dealing with an undesirable little bit of historical past – the final, and solely, England opener to play 5 Exams in an Ashes sequence in Australia with out making a half-century is Cyril Washbrook in 1950-51.
“The place does this sequence rank amongst Twenty first-century Ashes contests?” wonders Max Williams. “Undoubtedly high when it comes to English disappointment however as a sporting spectacle? I’d place it third backside.
“The Covid sequence was the worst, and the 2017-18 tour completely unmemorable. Then this shambles. 2001 and 2002-23 have been much more one-sided however showcased a very nice Australian crew and a few heroic English victories. Each whitewashes contained a number of iconic moments – Adaleide, Mitchell Johnson – and a dramatic weight that this sequence merely lacks.
“Finest, you ask? I received’t insult your intelligence however I’d place 2023 second and 2019 third – boasting arguably the best Take a look at match ever counts for lots. Appears like 2009 must be up there – 1-1 going into the deciding Take a look at – however the matches themselves weren’t nice.
“And sure, the respective places of all of the shut ones and all of the thumpings tells you an terrible lot about our respective cricketing nations.
Max, I really like you however please don’t make me do a Rank and Price. Not tonight, not after seven weeks of sleep deprivation. (I just about agree with every part you say anyway, besides that I’d put this sequence backside. Not simply of Twenty first-century Ashes contests, however of each Take a look at sequence, ever, together with India 1-0 England with 5 attracts in 1981-82.
WICKET! Australia 567 all out (Boland c Brook b Jacks 0)
Scott Boland goes first ball, caught at slip off a beautiful off-break from Will Jacks. Beau Webster finishes on 71 not out, one in need of his Take a look at finest. On the plus facet, the purple ink lifts his common to 41.09.
Australia lead by 183 runs, and the good cash is on the sequence ending earlier than lunch at present.
Drinks
133rd over: Australia 564-9 (Webster 68, Boland 0) Josh Tongue now has 15 wickets at 21.33 within the sequence. He’s obtained one thing about him and can certainly be inked in as England’s first-chance seamer for the forseeable future.
WICKET! Australia 564-9 (Starc b Tongue 5)
England say that Ben Stokes is being assessed for a ‘proper adductor criticism’. Harry Brook is captaining the crew in his absence, hoping someone can hoover up the final two wickets quicksmart.
Josh Tongue is normally the person for the job. He seams a full-length supply via the gate to bowl Mitchell Starc, who seems to be quizzically on the pitch earlier than strolling off. Fantastically bowled.
132nd over: Australia 560-8 (Webster 67, Starc 2) We’ve spoken about most of England’s choice choices, from the spinners to the openers to Jamie Smith. It’s additionally actually essential they discover a specialist new-ball bowler. Ideally it could be Ollie Robinson, who stays England’s finest Take a look at bowler for my coin, however that appears unlikely. I believe Sam Cook dinner deserves a correct probability
A weary supply from Carse to Webster flies away for 4 leg-byes. Australia lead by 176 runs.
131st over: Australia 553-8 (Webster 65, Starc 1) If Webster does get an everyday place within the facet, there’s an opportunity Cam Inexperienced shall be moved as much as exchange Usman Khawaja at No5. The one different choice determination is round Jake Weatherald. You worry for him a bit, particularly with a visit to South Africa arising.
In different information, the query of the day comes from Alex Netherton.
With England washed-up, knackered, and virtually completely hopeless – a final useless cat bounce now about to ker-splat into the dusty floor – why do you assume the Guardian thought you have been suited to this shift specifically?
a hundred and thirtieth over: Australia 550-8 (Webster 64, Starc 0) Webster pulls Carse easily and serenely for 4. Actually good participant, this man, and he certainly deserves a run within the crew for the following 12 months or so.
“We’re informed a Bazball article of religion is ‘transferring the sport alongside’,” says Darryl Accone. “It’s clear from this Take a look at alone, nevertheless, that making use of such a credo indiscriminately has the impact of advancing the sport to the opposition’s benefit, as proven by the sporadic headlessness of Brook, Jamie Smith and the England tempo battery, amongst others.
“In distinction, Australia know each that point is longer than rope and that Take a look at cricket is ‘per ardua advert astra’ (via adversity to the celebrities). Quaint historic practices like taking time to play your self in and batting time are what have helped bash Bazball in the long run.”
I’m loath to evaluate the advantage of England’s method primarily based on this sequence, for one principal purpose: England have been crap. They performed orthodox Take a look at cricket 4 years in the past and have been plugged 4-0, as a result of they have been crap then too.
Ach, I don’t know. I’m sleep-deprived and grumpy. I nonetheless assume a greater model of this method may cause issues for any crew, as we noticed for a lot of the 2023 sequence.
129th over: Australia 544-8 (Webster 59, Starc 0) Smith will get a standing ovation after making his thirteenth Ashes hundred. Like Joe Root’s century earlier within the sport, it was a low-key masterclass from an all-time nice.
WICKET! Australia 544-8 (Smith c Smith b Tongue 138)
Josh Tongue will get Steve Smith for the sixth outing of six. I don’t suppose you possibly can name Smith a bunny when he has simply made 138, however it’s nonetheless a pleasant second for Tongue. It was a terrific supply that straightened off the seam, squared Smith up and shaved the skin edge. The opposite Smith, Jamie, did the remainder.
128th over: Australia 542-7 (Smith 136, Webster 58) England hit Australia with a five-man tempo assault on the primary day at Perth. Brydon Carse is the final man standing and continues to cost in with intent, if not all the time accuracy. A poor ball is tickled for 4 by Webster to convey up the hundred partnership. England are face down within the dust and there’s nothing they’ll do about it.
Stokes leaves subject with groin damage
127th over: Australia 535-7 (Smith 136, Webster 52) Webster works Stokes for a single to achieve a breezy half-century from 64 balls. He seems to be a very good participant, has from the second he turned the India sequence Australia’s manner on debut a 12 months in the past.
Oh, great information for England. Ben Stokes has injured within the groin and received’t be capable of full his over. I don’t suppose it issues within the grand scheme – they don’t play one other Take a look at till the summer time – however it’s a symbolic blow on the finish of a depressing sequence for England. Jacob Bethell bowls the final two balls of the over.
126th over: Australia 531-7 (Smith 135, Webster 49) Apologies, we’re having some technical points firstly of play. Smith and Webster have already hit a boundary apiece off Stokes and Carse respectievly.
one hundred and twenty fifth over: Australia 524-7 (Smith 135, Webster 42)
It’s one other early begin at present, with a two-and-a-half-hour morning session to make up among the time misplaced on the primary day. The gamers are on the point of take the sphere.
They do issues effectively in Australia. On the primary day of this fifth Take a look at got here a becoming tribute to the victims and first responders of the Bondi atrocity, and on the third day the Sydney Cricket Floor was become a sea of pink to as soon as once more increase funds for the McGrath Basis.
Out within the center, nevertheless, Australian charity was in far shorter provide. Throughout three periods their batters floor England’s bowlers into the mud, answering any questions on their motivation since securing the Ashes and throwing up just a few extra about their crushed opponents.
Faces flush from the ordeal, Ben Stokes and his crew trudged off at stumps seeing pink elephants. Steve Smith’s thirty seventh Take a look at century, 129 not out from 205 balls, had adopted the second half of Travis Head’s scorching 163 from 166, and with it Australia had reached 518 for seven from 124 overs. The lead sat at 134 runs in a single day and regarded an ominous one.
The legendary Neil Harvey, 97, talks to Tanya Aldred in a captivating interview.
I’ve been disenchanted in England. I believe the best way they method the batting facet of issues, they get too reckless, no person appears to wish to construct an innings, like a Cowdrey or a Boycott.
It would work towards atypical groups however whenever you get a category facet like Australia it’s a unique ballgame. I used to attain runs comparatively shortly, and everybody will get lots of enjoyment out of it, however whenever you attempt to play this Bazball factor it takes the chances away from profitable an essential Take a look at. I’d wish to see them pull their hooves in.
Barney Ronay
Forty-five minutes right into a quietly overcast morning on the Sydney Cricket Floor, Matt Potts got here into the England assault from the Randwick Finish, and instantly started working via his variations.
His first ball was large and smashed via cowl by Travis Head. His second ball was each quick and large and hacked over gully by Travis Head. His third ball was quick and straight and smashed previous midwicket by Travis Head. His fourth ball was defended with a present of furrowed warning, to loud, mocking cheers from a crowd that had begun to tuck into the day. Welcome to the treadmill, Pottsy. And sure, it’s all the time like this round right here.

Geoff Lemon
There was a time, whereas Steve Smith was on the top of his batting prowess, when “finest since Bradman” was used with confidence. The factor about that line is that even when the recipient has dominated for years, it will get utilized too shortly, given the purpose of comparability is a career-lasting twenty years. A number of gamers attain the highest for a time, no different has stayed as lengthy. Smith was untouchable for six years earlier than returning to the realm of the merely excellent.
The mixture of these phases, although, took him to a uncommon place on the third day of the fifth Take a look at in Sydney. Within the statistics of the sport there are milestones, then there are mountaintops. For a very long time in Smith’s Ashes-heavy profession there have been two peaks drawing progressively nearer within the mist. Donald Bradman’s 5,028 runs towards England is one which even Smith won’t ever climb. Jack Hobbs’s 3,636 runs towards Australia is the one he ascended on Tuesday.
Preamble

Rob Smyth
The 2025-26 Ashes, presumably probably the most anticlimactic sequence within the 144 years since Fred Spofforth raised hell at The Oval, is limping in direction of a becoming conclusion. Australia are on track to crush England at Sydney and win the sequence 4-1, a scoreline not even probably the most one-eyed Pom might dispute.
It’s been a triumph of expertise, maturity, self-discipline, ability and Travis Head. His audacious 123 at Perth opened English wounds which have but to heal; 4 Exams later he’s cheerily grinding salt into them. Head’s deceptively pitiless 163 helped Australia to 518 for 7 on the finish of day three, a lead of 134. Steve Smith will resume on 129 after making a century that regarded inevitable even earlier than he confronted his first ball. England’s unbalanced, second-string assault gave every part they’d on a punishing day. For a wide range of causes, it wasn’t sufficient.
Australia, regardless of a variety of faultlines of their crew, have received the sequence with an ease that’s arduous to understand. Perhaps that’s an Anglocentric view. It’s not Australia’s fault that England failed to show up – even when, on some stage, they in all probability craved a larger problem.
The final rites shall be administered both this night or tomorrow. There’s an opportunity of an entire blowout when England bat, simply as there was within the closing innings of 2013-14 (when England lasted 31.4 overs) and 2021-22 (38.5 overs). Their our bodies are drained, their confidence shot, their spirit damaged. It’s practically time for everybody to go dwelling.