OTD | Australia retained the 1997 Ashes series after defeating England by 264 runs in the 5th Test

On this day in 1997, Australia retained the Ashes with a commanding victory over England in the 5th Test, sealing the series with a 264-run win. The match, held at the Kennington Oval in London, saw Australia showcasing their dominance in both batting and bowling, ultimately securing the Ashes for the sixth consecutive series.

The match began with Australia putting up a formidable total of 427 runs in their first innings. Openers Matthew Elliott and Mark Taylor set the tone early, scoring 69 and 76 runs, respectively. Their solid partnership laid the foundation for the middle order, with contributions from Greg Blewett (50), Mark Waugh (68), and Steve Waugh (75). 

Despite a strong effort from England’s bowlers, including Dean Headley’s four-wicket haul and Devon Malcolm’s three wickets, Australia managed to post a challenging score. England’s response in their first innings was less than ideal. 

Despite a valiant 87 from Alec Stewart and a gritty 53 from Graham Thorpe, England was bowled out for 313, trailing by 114 runs. Glenn McGrath led the Australian bowling attack with four wickets, while Shane Warne also claimed four wickets, showcasing his spin mastery.

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What happened in Second Innings?

In their second innings, Australia continued to build on their lead, setting England a daunting target of 451 runs. Key performances included Greg Blewett’s 60 and Ian Healy’s quickfire 63, which pushed Australia to 336. Andy Caddick was the pick of the England bowlers with three wickets, but the English attack struggled to contain Australia’s determined batting lineup.

England’s second innings quickly turned into a nightmare as they faltered under pressure. The top order crumbled, with Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath ripping through the batting lineup. John Crawley managed to score 33, while Graham Thorpe stood out with an unbeaten 82. However, the rest of the batting order failed to provide support, and England was bowled out for just 186.

The victory by 264 runs not only sealed the Test match but also the series, allowing Australia to retain the Ashes. It was a testament to Australia’s superiority in both the batting and bowling departments, with their depth and consistency proving too much for England. This triumph marked another chapter in Australia’s Ashes dominance during the 1990s, a period where they established themselves as one of the most formidable cricketing sides in history.