The SCG has overseen a famous draw in the fourth Ashes Test, England defying the odds to hold on and bat out the final two overs with just one wicket left.
It was an enthralling day’s cricket, both sides looking at different times as though they would get the result they craved, which set up an epic final hour that no cricket fan will soon forget.
Starting the day with 10 wickets in the sheds, Haseeb Hameed was the first to go, edging behind in a familiar display.
Dawid Malan also came and went cheaply, however Zak Crawley made good on the glimpses of potential he’s shown previously.
He made 77 before Cameron Green got one to swing back in and catch him on the pad, England heading to the Lunch break three down.
Zak Crawley sent it upstairs but the DRS confirmed the on-field decision and he has to go! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/Kkww4PMSne
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 9, 2022
While the first session was Australia’s, the tourists won the second to set up an enthralling finish. Joe Root copped a peach off Scott Boland and edged behind, but Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow dug in to go to Tea with five wickets in hand.
It took something special for Nathan Lyon to get Stokes shortly after the break, Steve Smith taking the catch at slip with a ball that turned more than almost any other in the match.
Nathan Lyon's ball to dismiss Ben Stokes spun by 5.27° - only one ball bowled by Lyon to Stokes in the entire Test has turned more than that one. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 9, 2022
With less than 20 overs to play and the Aussies still needing four wickets, a Pat Cummins special was required.
The captain delivered a double-wicket maiden at the most imperative of times, two huge inswingers with the new ball catching both Jos Buttler and Mark Wood LBW.
Cummins' yorker to dismiss Wood swung by an enormous 3.93° - only seven balls in this entire series has swung more. Freakish delivery by a quite frankly freakish bowler. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 9, 2022
The resistance of Jonny Bairstow fell when Boland got a ball to nip off the seam, giving Australia 10 overs to target Jack Leach and Stuart Broad.
Try as they might, the Aussie quicks couldn’t break down the tailenders, who survived until just three overs to go. Pat Cummins was set to take the ball again, but in the fading light, the umpires deemed only spin could be bowled.
With Nathan Lyon on at the other end, Cummins threw the ball to Smith as a part-time leggie. As England looked set to hold on for a famous draw, the former captain caught the rough outside Leach’s off-stump as he edged to David Warner at first slip.
It left Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson to negotiate a little over two overs, and while there were some nervous moments, the two quick bowlers lasted with bat in hand and held on for an incredible draw.
While there were no winners and losers in result, former England captain Michael Atherton summed up the range of emotions in commentary for SEN Test Cricket after the final ball.
“Great Test match. An absolutely wonderful Test match that ended in epic circumstances with these two old warriors for England, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad defying the last three overs of the day,” Atherton said.
“Well played Australia, they pushed so hard today. Pat Cummins found a little bit of inspiration with the second new ball that almost got them over the line, but it was good to see some spirit and resilience from England.”
“I never thought they could come and win here in Australia, but I hoped they could come and show a little bit more than they had done over the first three Test matches, and I think though Stokes and Bairstow and Broad’s five wickets over the first few days and a bit of Mark Wood today, and Bairstow today with an injured thumb, I thought they showed a bit more and that was good to see.
“Australia obviously much the better side, but England fought to the end and that’s really all you can ask.”
Australia still leads the series 3-0, the series now heading to Hobart on January 14 for the last Test.
Listen to Pat Cummins and Joe Root speak with SEN Test Cricket after the draw below