Australia manages to retain the Ashes after the 4th Test

For the first time since 2001, Australia will return home with England having surrendered the Ashes on their own turf. As the late evening sun streamed through the clouds, England’s defeat was confirmed with Craig Overton caught LBW after making a defiant 105-ball stand. It is easy to say that Steve Smith has dictated these Ashes from the middle of his bat. In reality, this Australian side has been well-prepared and played better cricket.

Smith, though, must be the beginning of the inquiry into the fourth test. His double century in the first innings made an England victory improbable, and then his effortless 82 mocked England’s attack. Supported by Labuschagne and Paine, his two innings were probably the decisive factor in the match. Yet it is Australia’s bowling that deserves the most credit. Cummins and Hazlewood continued to torment their opponents. In the first innings Cummins produced a 10-over spell as good as any you’ll see in world cricket, and Hazlewood duly cleaned up the shattered English top order. In the second innings Cummins sent the steadfast Burns back to the pavilion with his third ball and produced the perfect delivery to remove England’s captain for a golden duck. Few can blame Root, Cummins’ ball was perfect, angling in just enough to hit the top of off-stump and leave England two wickets down early. Without Cummins’ consecutive wickets in the first over of the second innings, England may have been able to bat out the final day and rescue the test match.

What should trouble England fans is that this team only seems to produce with their backs against the wall

Though England lost, their last stand to save the Ashes on the final day should restore a little pride. Denly, Buttler, and Overton all stayed at the crease for over two hours. Even Jason Roy managed to weather 67 balls. One could criticise Burns’ and Stokes’ dismissals, though both have played superb series so are permitted a small mistake. What should trouble England fans is that this team only seems to produce with their backs against the wall. With the Ashes gone and the series on the line, questions begin to circle about the future of this England test team.

On the surface England’s problem seems obvious: the top order is in disarray and leaves no platform for the middle order to build on. In the first innings England opened with Burns and Denly, with Root at 3 and Roy at 4. In this only Burns seems to be in the right place, otherwise Denly has his best average at 3 and Root at 4, with Roy clearly not being suited to the rigours of opening in test cricket. Since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012 England have struggled to find openers, with this further compounded by the retirement of Sir Alastair Cook last year.

However, the problem goes deeper, with the selection of this England team. Symptomatic of this selection confusion is Jason Roy. Roy is a fine white-ball cricketer, yet the decision for him to open the batting with the equally untested Burns is inexplicable. Roy plays little red-ball cricket and has not opened in a first-class match since 2015 (averaging only 31.65 as an opener). While he can smash the white Kookaburra that barely swings all over the place, the Dukes ball is a different proposition. As a test opener the real skill is judging what balls not to play, and Roy seems to lack the patience and temperament to grind out an innings. Even when he made his highest test score against Ireland (72), he made if off only 78 balls and was playing at 3. Why the selectors felt the desire to throw a white-ball specialist in the deep end during the highest-pressure situation possible only they know.

Despite England’s failings, the final word must go to the Australians

One must also wonder how Sam Curran is not playing. Against Virat Kohli’s India he won player of the series last year and yet has not featured at all. His ability to swing his left-arm deliveries into right-handers may have given England another plan with which to attack Steve Smith. Chris Woakes should also feel aggrieved; having taken 9 wickets in the first three tests, he was dropped for Craig Overton. Though not a bad cricketer, it is hard to see match conditions in which he is preferable to Woakes at the moment.

Despite England’s failings, the final word must go to the Australians. To Tim Paine for bringing his country and career back from the brink of ruin. To the endless dedication and preparation that has enabled Australia’s success. Finally, to Steve Smith, who has battled demons both internal and external and has risen above them to prove himself the world’s test batsman par excellence.