Men’s Ashes Fifth Test Report Card, Day Five

Featuring changing balls, going Full Herschelle and losing literal and metaphorical Heads.

Changing Balls
Grade: B

And so we came to the mad final day. One that began with Australian fans and commentators complaining furiously about the replacement ball the umpires had chosen for England. Unlike the previous ball, this one swung more and saw the rapid demise of not just Usman Khawaja and David Warner but also Marnus Labuschagne, triggering a truly phenomenal amount of moaning about the situation from Australian fans and commentators.

Warner must have felt particularly hard done by, dealing as he did with the unlucky triple blow of rain interrupting his innings, a newish ball replacement and Jonny Bairstow holding onto a catch. 

The ball, of course, wasn’t the only thing that changed. The unfair umpires also swapped out the tired and clueless England attack from the prior day for a threatening and focused set of bowlers. None more so than Chris Woakes who was challenging the batters with every delivery. 

Nevertheless, Travis Head’s arrival at the crease saw Australia steady once more, to the point where England asked the umpires if they could get a different Travis Head to the crease. Maybe one without a moustache?