Australia are the defending holders of the Ashes going into the 20221/2022 series, having won in 2017–18 with the 2019 Ashes series ending in a draw.
How it’s unfolded so far:
First Test
Rory Burns was bowled for a golden duck by Mitchell Starc off the first ball of the series. Dawid Malan was caught behind by Alex Carey from a delivery by Josh Hazlewood. Captain Joe Root followed with a duck after getting caught at first slip by David Warner from a delivery by Hazlewood. Ben Stokes was only able to score five runs before being caught out off a delivery by Pat Cummins. Ultimately, England was dismissed for 147 in their first innings. Although England was all out before tea, Australia was unable to begin their first innings due to weather
Marcus Harris was only able to score three runs before being dismissed by Ollie Robinson. Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Green were dismissed in quick succession, going four for 29. England were unable to capitalise on three close opportunities to dismiss David Warner on 17, 48, and 60. Warner was able to score 94 runs before being caught out off a delivery by Robinson. Green was bowled out by Robinson in one ball. Australia ended the day 7/343. Travis Head was not out, having scored 112 runs with twelve fours and two sixes.
Australia were all out before lunch, with Travis Head bowled out off a yorker from Mark Wood. Australia’s run total for the innings was 425, with Head contributing 152. Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns were the first two batsmen for England’s second innings. Burns was called out lbw with zero runs, but the call was overturned by DRS. Burns was later dismissed for 13 and Hameed soon followed, being dismissed for 27. The next two batsmen, Dawid Malan and Joe Root, ended the day not out with 80 and 86 runs, respectively. As a result, England ended the day trailing Australia by 58 runs.
Despite strong performances in day three, Malan and Root were only able to add two and three runs on day four before falling. Ollie Pope was the next to fall after being caught at the slip. The global broadcast from The Gabba was then cut off for approximately 30 minutes while the Test continued. After the broadcast was able to return, Stokes edged a ball from Pat Cummins and was caught out in the gully, leaving England 6/266. The next four batsmen, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, and Mark Wood, were dismissed in quick succession, ending the innings. In total, England scored 297 with eight wickets and only 77 runs in day four.
With a target of 20 runs, Australia opened their second innings with Alex Carey and Marcus Harris. Carey was dismissed, but Harris was able to reach the target score before Australia’s third batsman faced a ball.
Second Test
Steve Smith captained Australia with Pat Cummins not being available due to a potential COVID-19 exposure at a restaurant had him self-isolate for seven days in compliance with provincial health regulations. Smith won the toss and decided to bat first. Marcus Harris and David Warner opened the batting for the home team. However, Harris was out soon, caught by England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler off the bowling of Stuart Broad. Marnus Labuschagne and Warner stabilized the innings putting on a partnership of 172 runs for the second wicket before Warner was out for 95, falling five short of a century, caught by Broad off the bowling of Ben Stokes. Australia ended the day at 225 for two, with Labuschagne remaining not out at 95 (having been dropped twice by Buttler on 21 and 95) and Smith on 18 not out.
Early in the day, Labuschagne reached his sixth test hundred with a controlled edge past second slip to the boundary. Having come off 287 balls, it was the slowest Test century by an Australian since Jason Gillespie’s effort against Bangladesh in 2006. He was dismissed LBW shortly afterward on 103 by Ollie Robinson, offering no shot to a delivery. Australia reviewed the decision, however, the decision by the on-field umpire stayed. Travis Head joined the captain Smith at the wicket and the duo put on fifty runs for the fourth wicket before Head was bowled off a full toss from the bowling of English captain Joe Root. Cameron Green came to the crease but was back to the pavilion adding only two runs. Australia were at 294 for five. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey joined Smith to put on 91 runs for the sixth wicket before Smith was out leg before to James Anderson for 93. Australia reviewed the decision but the on-field umpire’s decision stayed as an ‘umpire’s call’. Carey brought up his fifty before being out for 51 caught at cover by Haseeb Hameed off the bowling of Anderson. Australia brought up their 450 before declaring for 473 at the loss of 9 wickets.
England opened their innings with Hameed and Rory Burns, both of whom were out for single digit scores bringing England to a total of 12 runs for the loss of two wickets. Hameed was out for 6 runs caught at mid-on by Mitchell Starc off the bowling of Michael Neser, while Burns was out for 4 runs caught by Smith at second slip off the bowling of Starc. England ended the day at 17 for two with Dawid Malan remaining not out at one and Joe Root remaining not out at 5.
Malan and Root resumed from their overnight positions and carried their bats through the first session with England getting to lunch at 140 runs for the loss of no additional wickets. Malan was unbeaten at 58 while Root was unbeaten at 40. Root was the first to be dismissed for 62 runs out caught by Smith at first slip off the bowling of Green. England were 150 for the loss of three wickets. Malan followed soon with the team adding 7 runs before Malan was out for 80 runs caught by Smith again at first slip off the bowling of Starc. England lost their next six wickets within 79 runs folding for a total of 236 runs. For the Australians Starc took four wickets conceding 37 runs, while spinner Nathan Lyon took three wickets conceding 58 runs.
Australia chose not to enforce the follow-on and ended the day 45 for one, with Warner run-out in a mixup with batsman Harris, with a combination of Broad and Buttler dislodging the stumps. Harris remained unbeaten at 21 while Neser was not out having scored two runs.
England took the field without Root, who was being treated for a lower abdominal injury sustained in the warm up session. Stokes took over as captain during Root’s brief absence. Despite this setback, England started the day well, dismissing Neser, Harris and then the captain Smith in quick succession to have Australia 55 for four. But then Robinson, who had taken two of the day’s wickets, switched from seam bowling to off-spin, presumably to lift the over rate. Root returned soon afterwards to the field, but by that time Australia had steadied, Head having combined with Labuschagne and helping Australia end the first session 134 for four, leading by 371 runs.
Head was first to depart when play resumed, caught by Stokes at deep square leg off Robinson; his 51 had come off only 54 deliveries. Labuschagne also reached a half-century to back up his mighty first-innings effort before departing, also for 51, caught by Stokes (this time fielding at deep mid wicket) off the part-time leg spin of Malan, his first test wicket. Although wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, the remaining batters continued to add runs and when Smith declared at 230 for nine after Richardson had been dismissed, England had been set a winning target of 468 in the remaining four sessions.
England resumed their second innings chasing a target of 468 runs and were immediately down a wicket when Hameed was out for a duck caught by the wicketkeeper Carey off the bowling of Jhye Richardson. Malan joined Burns and the duo put on 44 runs before Malan was out for 20 runs leg before to Neser. Burns and Root followed soon after with England ending the day at 82 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Chasing a stiff target, England were at 142 runs for six wickets at dinner with Buttler at 16 and Chris Woakes at 28. The duo added 61 runs for the seventh wicket before Woakes was out for 44 runs out bowled by Richardson. England were all out for 192 runs with Australia winning the game by 275 runs. Richardson was the pick of the bowlers taking five wickets while conceding 42 runs. Australia were up 2–0 in the five-match series. Labuschagne was the player of the match for his century in the first innings and half century in the second innings.
Hollywoodbets has Australia at 1/50 to retain the Ashes.
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