Steve Smith goes the tonk on day five of the fifth Ashes Test. Source: AFP
AFTER England had put the fifth Test to sleep with a combination of slow over-rates, soporific batting and wet weather, Australia did their best to shake it back to life with some daring second innings batting.
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After England had been bowled out for 337, Australia declared at 6-111 at tea, with Michael Clarke 28 and Mitchell Starc 13. That meant England were set a target of 227 to win.
Earlier in this series, the heavy loss of wickets was the result of poor Australian wickets. This time, it was the consequence of the tourist's admirable attempt to revive a contest England had tried to kill.
Australia promoted Shane Watson to open with David Warner, and used a succession of pinch-hitters in an attempt to set England a target. Watson (12), Warner (26), James Faulkner (22), Brad Haddin (0), Steve Smith (7) and Ryan Harris (1) all came and went in the pursuit of quick runs.
After the fourth day was washed out, England resumed at 4-247 in reply to Australia's 9-492 declared, with their major chore to eclipse the follow on target of 293 and ensure they achieved the cynical draw they had contrived to create.
James Faulkner managed to salvage something from what, until Australia's enterprising play, threatened to be a futile day.
The Tasmanian all-rounder's first scalp was the prized wicket of Ian Bell, and he finished with 4-51 in a memorable debut.
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Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin also achieved a milestone when he caught James Anderson. Haddin's 28th dismissal equalled Rod Marsh's all-time Test series record. Marsh, the duty selector at this Test, watched from the balcony.
Ryan Harris took 2-64 from 28 overs and further enhanced his credentials as Australia's player of the series despite having been overlooked for the first Test at Trent Bridge.
Some late hitting by English tailender Graeme Swann who smashed 34 from 24 balls, and Australia's slogging, had given the crowd something to cheer despite England's unwillingness to take the game on.
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In trying to defend their go slow on the third day, England batsman Joe Root had blamed the sluggish Oval wicket which, he claimed, had made shot making difficult.
However, as Australia had demonstrated on the first two days, it was nowhere near as difficult as the England batsmen made it seem as they deliberately played for a draw rather than attempting to record an unprecedented 4-0 home series victory.
The Oval was packed with fans celebrating England's third consecutive Ashes triumph. This is the first time England had won three consecutive Ashes series since 1956.
But while they rightly celebrated England's triumph, the final Test had demonstrated that the gap between the two teams was narrowing. Something apparent in England's unwillingness to risk defeat by playing more aggressive cricket.
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