Ashes 2017/18, 4th Test, Day 5: 5 things we learnt from the day

An exciting day five beckoned when Australia were batting at 103/2 at the start of the fifth day. Australia’s chances of winning were bleak but England had a very good chance of pulling one back.

The first hour and a half was all about Smith and Warner continuing to blunt the English attack. But a couple of quick wickets just before the lunch brought back life into the game.

But, excellent resistance from Mitchell Marsh who complemented Smith very well helped Australia salvage a draw.

Here are five things we learnt from the day's play.

#5 David Warner and Steve Smith continue from where they left off

On the fourth day, England were ahead in the game when James Anderson got rid of Usman Khawaja. Australia were in a spot of bother at 65/2 when Steve Smith joined David Warner and the captain and vice-captain duo did well to defy England.

When the fifth day started, Smith and Warner were going to be key if Australia would’ve wanted to save the Test match. They needed to continue what they did on Day 4 and they did just that.

Both Smith and Warner were patient and looked in total control, keeping the good deliveries out. Warner, in particular, played an uncharacteristic innings to score a patient 86 (in 226 balls) at a strike-rate of 37.88.

#4 David Warner presents Joe Root a 27th Birthday present

An ill-timed slog-sweep brought an end to David Warner's resistance

David Warner and Steve Smith were batting really well. They had put up a gritty 100-run stand and looked good for more. However, with little assistance in the pitch for the seamers and Moeen Ali ineffective, skipper Joe Root decided to bring himself on.

The first ball he bowled was tossed up outside off which Smith hit to mid-off for a single. With Warner on strike, Root had a slip, short-leg, short-point and a short-cover. There was also a little bit of rough outside the left-hander’s off-stump.

Root tossed up his second delivery and landed the flighted delivery on the rough which turned a bit. Warner who was very patient throughout the innings couldn’t resist and went for the slog-sweep and top-edged it. Vince completed the catch and Root who was celebrating his 27th birthday picked up a key scalp.

This wicket ended a stoic 107-run stand.

#3 Mitchell Marsh plays a gritty and patient innings

Mitchell Marsh supported Smith very well after Australia lost two quick wickets

At lunch, Australia were a bit tentative at 178/4 and had just lost a couple of quick wickets. Steve Smith was looking brilliant once again but desperately needed someone to support him.

Like Warner, the younger Marsh blunted the England attack and played an uncharacteristic innings, .scoring a stodgy 166-ball 29. He didn’t follow his natural attacking instincts and played a patient and a gritty knock.

The junior Marsh adapted beautifully and showed a different dimension to his game. He showed that he can adapt to various situations of the game and deserves the No. 6 spot in the Australian Test team.

#2 Dead pitch

The English spearheads, Broad and Anderson toiled hard on Day 5

The game was nicely poised at 103/2 at the end of the fourth day and Australia were in danger of losing the Test match.

However, the pitch which was fairly dry right from the first day and continued to be good for batting even on day 5. There was no swing, seam or bounce and not a lot of turn as well.

Even the bouncers attempted by the England pacers didn’t look threatening and they came slowly off the pitch.

Most of the commentators on air criticized the nature of the pitch as well.

Let’s be honest this Pitch is a stinker for Test Cricket ... #OnOn #Ashes

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 30, 2017

Day 5 and still very flat for batting ?????? @wwos pic.twitter.com/F0W8cE3A52

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 29, 2017

#1 Steve Smith continues to churn out hundreds

Smith frustrated England

Steve Smith walked into bat when Australia were in trouble and played a captain’s knock when his team needed him the most. Though he missed out on a hundred in the first innings (he scored 65), he didn’t in the second.

Smith scored his 23rd Test hundred and helped Australia save the match, along with completing 600 runs in the series. He deservedly got a standing ovation from an under-par MCG crowd (only about 14,000-odd turned up on the final day) and finished with 102 off 275 balls as the match ended in a draw.

What a player!#Ashes @MastercardAU pic.twitter.com/aQLy2LDKXz

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2017