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The fifth Ashes 2023 Test came to a dramatic end on Day 5 at Kennington Oval, London. Stuart Broad who announced his retirement at the end of Day 3’s play ended his Test career with the wicket of Alex Carey to help the hosts win by 49 runs and level the series 2-2. While several personal milestones were achieved by players during the Test, the rivals England and Australia combined to break a Test record that was created in January 1928.
England and Australia batters combined to score 1,307 runs in the Test, the most in a Test without a bater scoring a century in an innings. For England, Joe Root came closest to reaching the three figures but got bowled to off-spinner Todd Murphy. Root scored 91 off 106 balls in England’s second innings.
A total of eight half-centuries were scored in the fifth Test but none of the batters could go on to get a century.
The age-old record
The previous-highest tally of runs scored in a Test without a century was in 1928. In South Africa's clash against England in Durban, a total of 1,272 runs were scored. A total of 13 half-centuries were scored in the clash that ended in a draw.
Ashes record broken too
The previous highest score in an Ashes Test is 1,262 runs. In 1997, a total of 10 half-centuries were scored in the Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Five of these half-centuries were scored by the top five Australian batters in the first innings including skipper Mark Taylor, siblings Mark Waugh, and Steve Waugh.
More batting records
There were a few other records created in Ashes 2023 by batters as well. A total of 74 sixes were hit, the most in an Ashes series. The run rate of 3.93 runs per over is the highest as well. England have been attacking more attacking since they adopted the Bazball approach. Their run rate was 4.74 runs per over, the most by a team in an Ashes series. The lowest innings total in the series was 224 recorded by Australia. This is the highest-lowest completed total in an Ashes series.
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