The Ashes: Nervous Ben Stokes unable to look at as England keep away from whitewash with thrilling attract 4th Test at SCG

For the second successive 12 months, Sydney produced a traditional drawn Test match. After India held on for a shocking draw final 12 months, it was England’s flip to carry the fort and forestall Australia from profitable the New Year’s Test. Joe Root’s males held on for an exhilarating draw regardless of shedding 9 wickets on Day 5 of the 4tth Ashes Test to keep away from a sequence whitewash on Sunday.

It all got here right down to James Anderson and Stuart Broad as England’s greatest bowlers, with batt of their hand, tried to carry on for two overs after “former leg-spinner” Steve Smith offered Australia the much-needed breakthrough eradicating Jack Leach and had England 9 down with 12 balls to go on Day 5 on the Sydney Cricket Ground.Ashes, 4th Test Day 5 HighlightsWith the sunshine fading on an overcast afternoon on the SCG, captain Pat Cummins was pressured to show to his spin bowlers. Steve Smith bowled 2 of the final 3 overs whereas Nathan Lyon bowled the penultimate over of the Test match.The equation got here right down to 1 wicket in 6 balls for Australia to go 4-0 up within the Ashes sequence and Smith was trusted to the do the job. Facing the leg-spinner was Anderson who managed to outlive 6 deliveries, together with the final one which was a rank half-tracker.There was unimaginable pressure within the air as Smith warmed as much as the bowl the ultimate over. The SCG crowd was cheering on the leg-spinner with all of the Australian fielders positioned across the bat within the thrilling closing over.How blessed are those that ‘get’ Test Cricket. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/mM7LFVJ8Oy— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 9, 2022
WATCH: NERVOUS BEN STOKES WATCHES THE FINAL OVERAs Smith tried his greatest to unsettle Anderson, Ben Stokes was caught on digital camera attempting to keep away from watching the proceedings from the dug out. Stokes had his head buried in his t-shirt as Anderson saved defending Smith within the closing over.WhitewashEngland survive the complete final day, end 9 down, and the SCG Test is a draw!#Ashes pic.twitter.com/udZpXzLXm0— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 9, 2022
In the tip, Stokes, whose face had turned purple, applauded the trouble from the tail-enders as England held on for a draw.Earlier within the day, it was Stokes and Jonny Bairstow who had led England’s resistance. The all-rounder hit 60 from 123 balls earlier than attending to Nathan Lyon. Bairstow batted out 105 balls for his 41 to comply with up the primary innings hundred, however he was dismissed by Scott Boland with greater than 8 overs to go for the shut of play.Leach and Broad resisted Australia’s cost, seeing off overs from captain Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Boland earlier than spinners had been requested to function as a consequence of fading gentle.It was Pat Cummins who turned it round and gave Australia a possibility to push for victory as he eliminated Jos Buttler and Mark Wood in the identical over (eighty fifth) with two unplayable in-swinging deliveries.England and Australia will meet within the fifth and closing Test, a day-night match, beginning January 14 in Hobart.