AUS vs ENG 5th Test Commentary - Hobart (14 January 2022)

FOUR! Wood will go down swinging! Full, outside off. He clears his front leg and slaps it through covers for a boundary.

FOUR! Up and over! Length ball, on off. Wood heaves it over mid off for a boundary.

OUT! BOWLED! Cummins gets his man! Mark Wood knows there's no point in hanging around and looks to go out with a few lusty blows. A short ball, outside off and Wood shuffles across looking to hook it away. The ball hurries onto him and he ends up getting an inside edge back onto the stumps and that's just been the story of this series. The English team just throwing in the towel way too early.

Another short ball, on middle. Broad backs away and plays it towards backward point for a run.

OUT! BOWLED! What a way to end the series as it is the captain, Pat Cummins, who gets the final wicket and takes his team to victory! Full, fast and dead straight. Ollie Robinson moves across the leg stump and just has no answer for the yorker. The ball shatters the stumps and AUSTRALIA WIN BY 146 RUNS AND WIN THE ASHES 4-0!

On off, pushed towards covers for a single.

Around off. Blocked.

FOUR! Nicely played. On middle and leg, Woakes flicks it in front of square on the leg side and picks up a boundary.

Back of a length, Woakes opens the face of the bat and guides it towards gully.

Shorter in length, around off and angled in. Woakes looks to hook but doesn't get any bat on it.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Edged and taken wonderfully by Alex Carey! Boland goes fuller, around off. Chris Woakes gives himself room and goes for the big heave on the leg side. The ball comes off the outside edge and flies to the right of the keeper. Alex Carey springs and takes a gem of a catch. Woakes perishes and Australia just two wickets away now from victory.

Around off. Pope tucks it towards short mid-wicket.

OUT! Cleaned up! The last of the recognized batters perishes and Australia all over the visitors right now. Pat Cummins hurls across a length ball that is angled into leg stump. Ollie Pope walks right across his stumps as he looks to flick it away. He misses and pays the ultimate price as the ball crashes into leg stump. Just three wickets to go now and England cannot believe it.

Good-length ball, outside off. Wood taps it through covers for a single.

Ooh, a nasty bouncer but Woakes does well. Shorter in length, angled towards the helmet. Woakes somehow manages to get it behind square for a single.

A quick bumper, outside off. Wood has a swipe at it but misses it completely.

Back of a length, around off. Wood hops and works it on the off side for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! Soft dismissal for Sam Billings and England are just crumbling under pressure. A length ball, angling into middle and leg. There is a bit of an extra bounce on offer for Scott Boland and that is what catches Billings out. He doesn't move his feet and is caught on the crease as he flicks it uppishly and straight into the hands of the skipper, Pat Cummins at mid on. It's all but over now for the visitors. Chris Woakes is the new man in.

Fuller in length, on off. This is pushed towards mid off.

Full again, trying to attack the pads. Woakes drives it towards mid off.

On off. Blocked out.

Back of a length, around off. Woakes takes it eye off the ball and just about manages to get a bat on it.

A length ball, angling into middle. Woakes manages to defend it out.

Short of a length, around off. Blocked out.

Full and on off. Billings gets the outside edge but it rolls towards the slip cordon.

Short of a length, around off. Pushed towards gully.

Short and on off. Pope pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Length and on the pads. Billings gets it off his pads to fine leg for a leg bye.

Back of a length, around off. Blocked out.

Length ball, on off. This comes back in. Billings looks to block but gets hit high on the pads.

Length ball, on off. Blocked out.

Full, on the pads. Billings looks to flick but gets hit on the pads. The ball goes to the leg side and they sneak in a leg bye.

Length ball, outside off. Left alone.

Length ball, outside off. Pope gets forward to block it.

Fuller, around off. Pope works it past square leg for a couple.

On lengh, outside off. Pushed to cover.

Back of a length, outside off. Pope goes back to block but it zips past the outside edge.

On a length, on off. Blocked out.

On a length, on off. Pope blocks it out.

Ouch! Short and on off. Pope looks to sway away but does not get low enough. The ball hits his shoulder.

Length ball, around off. Pushed towards gully but Green dives to stop the ball. A big cheer from the crowd.

Boland serves a length ball, just outside off. Root takes a step down the track and blocks it.

On a length, lands on off and stays a bit low. Root gets his bat down in time to block. Looks like it hit him low on the bat and he needs to change it.

Play and a miss! Back of a length, outside off. Root goes for the punch but misses.

OUT! BOWLED! Oh, boy. Speechless. Simply speechless. Root has a wry smile on his face and to be honest, there is nothing else he can do. Boland though is over the moon and he can do no wrong in the series. That is a really unfortunate way to get out. Lands on a length, on off and simply does not rise up! It shoots low and goes under the bat as Root is in the crease to block it. It goes onto hit the off pole and Root walks back. Things could get over soon now.

Good-length ball, wide of off stump. Billings has a poke at it and edges it down towards gully.

Angled into middle. Billings defends it solidly off the front foot.

Length ball, around off. Driven down the ground for a single. 100 up for England with that single.

Short of a length, around off. Root pushes it past gully to get a single.

Length ball, outside off. Pope goes at it with his hands and blocks it.

Short, on off. Pope sits under it.

On a length, outside off. Left alone.

Beaten again! Cummins bowls it full and just outside off. Pope looks to block it from the crease and the ball zips past the outside edge.

Very full again, around off. Root pushes it to cover.

FOUR! Misfield and a boundary! Length and on off. Root drives it nicely and the man at mid off misfields after diving to his right. The ball tickles to the fence. That brings up 5000 runs as Test captain for Joe Root.

Length, on off. Blocked out.

Short and on the body. Root drops his hands expecting that the ball will go past his shoulder. But it stays a bit low and hits the bottom of the bat. Luckily for him, the ball rolls to the slip cordon.

Short and down the leg side. Pulled down to fine leg for a couple.

Length ball, around off. Root dabs it towards gully and Green moves to his right and stops it. He can do no wrong here!

Bumper, down the leg side. Pope sits under it.

On a length, lands outside off and comes back in. Pope leaves it alone.

Beaten! Perfect delivery. Length ball, in the corridor of uncertainty. Pope looks to block that from the crease but it holds its line and goes past the outside edge.

Fuller and a bit wider. Left alone.

A sharp bouncer, on off. Pope ducks under it.

Nice and full, on off. Pope stays on the front to block it.

Full and on the pads.Stokes flicks it towards deep square leg for one.

Nice and full, around off. Root stays in the crease to block it.

Length ball, lands on off and angles away. Root blocks it towards cover.

A touch shorter and touch wider. Root slaps it towards deep point for one.

OUT! TAKEN! GONE! England in big, big trouble now! A brilliant catch by Lyon and Starc is pumped! He gets the important wicket of Stokes at the right moment for Australia. A surprise bumper, on middle. Stokes goes for the pull but gets the top edge. The ball goes towards deep square leg. Lyon, who hasn't had a lot to do in this game, runs in from the fence. He dives forward and takes a very good catch.

Fuller, around off. Pushed past cover for one.

Short of a length, outside off. Root hops back and pushes it to cover.

Length ball, outside off. Root leaves it alone.

Oh jaffa! Length ball, lands on the off pole. Root has to play and looks to block. The ball nips away a bit and goes past the outside edge.

Full, on off. Root blocks it from the crease.

On a length, on off. Pushed to mid on.

Play and a miss! Short of a length, outside off. Root goes for the cut shot but misses.

Fired full, on the pads. Stokes flicks it past mid on for a couple.

Back of a length, on off. Stokes blocks it from the crease.

A lovely push to mid off for nothing.

On a length, around off. Stokes pushes it nicely to mid off again.

Nice and full, on off. Stokes blocks it out.

Full and down the leg side. Stokes misses the flick.

Green certainly is on song here. A well-directed bumper, on off. Joe Root does well to get his head out of the way in time.

Length this time, around off. Root taps it on the off side.

Good-length ball, on off. This is squeezed to the right of point for a quick single.

On off. Blocked out.

Ouch! This is angled at the body from 'round the wicket. Stokes looks to pull but is through his shot early and gets a blow around the ribs.

Length ball, on off and this is pushed towards covers for a run.

A length ball, on off. Root hops on the back foot to defend.

Length again, around off and pushing Root back to defend.

Starc drifts onto the pads and Root tickles it towards fine leg for a single.

Beaten! Nicely angled in, around off and the ball just holds its line after pitching. Stokes looks to block but the ball zips past the outside edge.

Shorter in length and well outside off. Stokes isn't going to play at that one.

A sort of half-volley, on middle and leg. Ben Stokes flicks it nicely but straight to the fielder at wide mid on.

Around the top of middle. Crawley keeps it out on the off side.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Cameron Green is turning this match on its head all by himself! Green pitches this one up, around off and this one seems to be going on with the angle but just straightens a bit, enough to get the knick. Zak Crawley is drawn forward and he plays for the line but is undone by the late movement. The ball goes off the outside edge and Alex Carey dives to his right to take a sharp catch. Crawley was looking so good out there and now the visitors are certainly under pressure with two new batters out in the middle.

Back of a length, outside off. Stokes hangs back and steers it through backward point for a single.

Around off, kept out by Root.

Green is making the ball talk here. On a good length, around off and this one nips back in sharply off the surface. Root gets caught on the crease and gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Good-length again, on off and angling in. Root gets it off the inner half of the bat towards square leg for one and opens his account.

A length ball, angled into middle and leg. Crawley keeps it out.

Back of a length, outside off and dabbed down towards short cover.

Lovely away movement again from Boland. Pitched up, a bit wide of the off stump and shaping in. Crawley leaves it alone.

Boland hits the length hard and bowls it on off. Crawley hops back to defend.

LEG BYE! Apart from Joe Root no one knew where that ball went. Length again, outside off. Zak Crawley shuffles across the stumps and looks to whip it leg side. He misses and the ball goes off his pads towards backward point. They do eventually get a leg bye.

Good-length ball, outside off. Root is outside the crease and is outside the off pole as well. He leaves it alone.

Green is getting a good zip through the surface. Short of a good length, outside off and shaping away a bit. Malan throws his hands at it but misses.

Green is certainly getting the better of Malan out there. On a good length, around off and angling in sharply. Malan gets cut in half and has no answer to that one.

On top of off and Malan stays solid in defense.

A good bumper again, around the off pole. Malan sways away from it.

OUT! Chopped on! Cameron Green does get the wicket of Dawid Malan and he is elated. Malan was troubled by the short ball and that extra zip that Green is getting off the surface. This is on a good length, close to off stump and just nips back in ever so slightly. Dawid Malan is indecisive and has a late poke at it. His feet don't move and the inside edge is found. The ball goes back onto hit the off stump. Is this the opening the hosts were looking for?

Right on the money from Green. Root defends it nicely off the front foot.

Around the top of off, Malan blocks it out.

Boland goes full and angles it on off stump. Malan pushes it out towards mid off.

Back of a length, outside off. Malan hangs back and taps it towards point.

Nicely bowled, in that channel around the off stump. Malan shoulders arms.

A bit uppish, but through the gap. Length again, around off and driven on the up towards sweeper cover for a single.

Good-length ball, on off and defended out.

FOUR! Positive intent from Dawid Malan. A length ball, wide of off stump. Malan stands tall and slaps it past the diving fielder at point for a boundary.

Ouch! What a ripper! Green angles in a quick short ball, around the helmet. Dawid Malan just takes his eyes off the ball a bit and gets stung on the grill of the helmet. That one must have shaken up the batter. Luckily it didn't go through the gap inside the grill. Hope he is okay.

Shorter in length again, outside off. Malan makes the leave.

Short and wide, Malan leaves it alone.

Lucky! On a length, around off. Malan looks for the booming cover drive but gets an inside edge past the stumps. The batters get a single as well.

FOUR! Beautiful stroke! Length again, outside off. Zak Crawley stands tall and creams it through the covers for a boundary.

On a good length, over off. Crawley stays solid in defense.

A lovely shot for no run. Pitched up, on middle and the straight drive comes out. Crawley hits it dead straight and hits the stumps on the opposite end.

Length again, around middle. Crawley keeps it out towards mid-wicket.

On a length, around the fifth-stump line. Crawley defends it solidly off the front foot.

On off. Defended towards mid off.

That one moved late. Slightly pitched up, outside off and Crawley makes an assured leave. Maiden over from Scott Boland.

OUT! BOWLED! Oh, dear. Oh, dear dear. What has happened there? A session that was dominated by England ends with their opening stand broken! Length ball, just outside off. This comes in with the angle and gets quite close to the off pole. Now, Burns decides to leave it a bit too late and that proves to be his undoing. The ball takes the bottom part of the bat and goes onto hit the stumps! A much-needed wicket for Australia and that is Tea on Day 3!

Length ball, right around the top of off. Malan taps it towards covers.

Green goes full and on off. Malan pushes it out towards mid off.

Green pulls back his length a bit and angles it at the body. Malan looks to block but gets caught on the crease and the ball hits him on the arms.

Green bends his back this time and angles in a short ball, at the body. Malan does well to sway away from the line of the ball.

FOUR! Streaky boundary to get off the mark from Dawid Malan but he will take it. Full and outside off, Malan throws his hands at it and manages to squeeze it behind point for a boundary. Under 200 required now to win.

Length ball, outside off. Left alone.

On a length, but wide enough for Zak to leave it with ease.

FOUR! Nicely done! Length, on the pads. Zak Crawley flicks it nicely to the square leg fence.

On a length, outside off. Left alone.

Length, around off. Tapped towards gully.

Nice and full, on off. Zak Crawley comes forward to block it.

Fuller, around off. Burns pushes it towards mid-wicket.

FOUR! Great effort by Marnus Labuschagne but it is a boundary! Length ball, outside off. Burns drives it nicely through covers. Marnus Labuschagne chases it and does so till the end. He puts in a slide to bring it back in. The TV umpire is called in to check though. Replays show that his hand just brushed the boundary padding while he tries to pull it back in. Boundary.

Length, on off. Blocked out.

NOT OUT! What was that noise then? There was a noise for sure but there doesn't seem to any bat on it! Length ball, around off. Burns looks to block but the ball goes past the bat and goes to the keeper. Warner goes up and so does Green. Carey puts in delayed appeal too but the umpire is unmoved. Cummins moves forward and decides to review this one. Now, the replays roll in. First is Hotspot and there is nothing on it. Now, the UltragEdge is a bit interesting. There is a spike but the front-on angle is cropped and the umpire cannot see if there is a deflection to correlate with the UltraEdge spike. The TV umpire goes back to the front-on vision and that shows no clear deflection. He decides that there is no conclusive evidence and the onfield decision stays.

Full, outside off and Burns leans in to punch it towards covers.

On a good length, around off. This is driven nicely but straight to mid off.

On a length, on off. Blocked out.

On a length, on middle. Worked to short fine leg.

FOUR! Too fine and helped on its way! Full and down the leg side. Zak Crawley just helps it on its way to the fine leg fence.

Nice and full, on off. Zak blocks it out.

Beaten! Boland drags his length back a bit as Zak Crawley is batting out of the crease. He also pushes it wider, outside off. Crawley is beaten as he looks to block it away.

Length ball, on off. Blocked out.

Tap and run. Length, around off. Zak taps it with soft hands to cover and sets off for a single.

Back of a length, on middle and leg. Blocked out.

Snorter! This lands just a touch fuller, just outside off and angling away. Burns looks to block from the crease but is beaten.

Full, on middle. Burns works it through mid on and they get back for the third. Good shot.

Ouch! Short of a length, on off. Zak looks to pull but gets hit on the body.

Length ball, on middle. Flicked past square leg for one.

NOT OUT! Full ball, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley shuffles a bit and looks to flick it. The ball hits the pads and there is a big appeal for LBW! The umpire is unmoved again. Cummins runs in towards the pitch and has a word with his players. One of the players says that height should not be an issue and Cummins takes the review with a second left on the clock. The replays roll in. No bat on that and Ball Tracker has the ball clipping the leg stump with umpire's call! A lucky break for England. Had that been given out on field, the review would not have saved Zak Crawley!

Length ball, on off. Blocked out.

Full and on the pads. Zak gets hit on the pads and the ball rolls to the leg side. A leg bye is taken by the batters.

Length ball, on off. Blocked out.

Back of a length, just outside off. Burns gets behind the ball to block it.

Nicely pushed to mid off by Burns to end the over.

A length ball, around off. Crawley taps it towards the point region.

FIFTY-RUN STAND! Back of a length, angling into middle and leg. Crawley works it off the back foot towards mid-wicket for a single. A 50-run opening stand for England! This sight has been rare for them to witness in the recent past, but the English fans have something to cheer about now!

Short of a good length, angling across off stump. Burns hops back and keeps it out on the off side.

Slightly fuller, on off. Burns presents the full face of the bat and punches it towards mid off.

A well-directed shortish ball, over middle and just angling across the left-hander. Burns just about sways away from the line of the ball.

On middle, hit on the up towards mid on.

On a length, on off. Blocked out.

Full, on off. Burns works it past square leg for a single.

On a length, outside off. Blocked out.

Boland bowls it fuller and wider this time. Zak leaves it for Carey.

Back of a length, around off. Blocked out to cover.

On a length, on the pads. Zak gets rapped on the pads. The ball rolls past square leg and a single is taken.

Length ball, on off. Blocked out.

Beaten! Angled into middle from wide of the crease, on a length. It goes away a bit after pitching to beat Crawley's attempted defence.

FOUR! Oh, that is lovely! Length ball, around off. Zak Crawley takes a step down the track and nicely works it past mid-wicket for a boundary.

Two more now! On a length, around off. Zak gets the inside edge wide of deep backward square leg for a couple. Good running there.

Jaffa! Back of a length, just outside off. Zak Crawley is forced to poke at it but it zips past the outside edge.

FOUR! Cummins strays on the pads and Zak Crawley punishes it! Full, on middle and leg. A step forward and Crawley flicks it past the diving mid on fielder for a boundary. Highest opening pair for England in the series. These two ave looked really good in the middle.

Boland is right on the money! Length ball, landing outside off and coming back in. Zak leaves it with ease though.

Length, on the body. Worked past square leg for one.

Nice and full, on off. Burns blocks it back to the bowler.

On a length, right on the off pole. Burns stays back and defends it.

Boland comes 'round the wickets and bowls it full, just outside off. Burns covers the stumps an leaves it.

A big appeal for LBW! Full ball, around off. Burns stays in the crease to block it out but gets hit on the pads. There is a big appeal for LBW but the umpire is unmoved. The fielders move forward to have a chat. Height is something that is being discussed and they reckon that it might be going over. Not reviewed.

Good-looking shot from Rory Burns. A touch fuller, on off. Burns hangs back and punches it through the cover region. Marnus Labuschagne hunts it down and saves a run for his team.

Good running. On a length, around off. Crawley is pushed back and he just bunts it out towards covers for a quick single.

Not reviewed! It looked to be missing the bat by a fair way but there was a noise for sure. Starc pitches it up, around off and around 145 kph. The ball just moves away off the pitch and zips past Burns' outside edge. Cummins is the voice of reason from mid on and decides not to review it. The replay shows that it didn't hit anything.

As close as it can get to not hitting the stumps. Good-length ball, around off. Burns looks to block it out but ends up chopping it back onto the stumps. The ball though goes a couple of inches over the middle stump and Burns is maybe due for a little bit of luck in this series.

FOUR! Full, sliding on the pads. Burns keeps his balance and clips it behind square on the leg side for a boundary. This is a much better start from the English opening pair.

FOUR LEG BYES! Down the leg side yet again and Starc just isn't getting his line right here. Burns shuffles a bit and looks to flick it fine. The ball comes off the pads and races away into the fine leg fence.

Sharp work! Cummins hits the length hard and bowls it on off. Crawley taps it straight to Travis Head at short leg, who keeps Crawley on his toes.

FOUR! Lovely timing from Zak Crawley. Full and angling into middle and leg. Crawley plays an exquisite on drive and picks up a boundary down to the long on fence.

Nicely bowled! A length ball, angled into off and just nibbling away off the pitch. Crawley gets beaten past the outside edge as the ball keeps a bit low as well.

Back of a length, around middle and tapped towards mid-wicket.

Slightly fuller, on off and this is pushed towards mid on.

Good-length ball, angled at the body. Crawley looks to work it away leg side but misses. The ball comes off the pads and lands in front of short leg.

Pitched up, on middle. Burns blocks it out.

Anxious moment out there in the middle and the last thing the visitors need is another run out. Back of a length, Burns is on the back foot and gets a bottom edge back onto the deck. Crawley looks for the single but Burns doesn't even know where the ball is. Crawley retreats in time.

Good-length, angled into middle and leg. Burns gets caught on the crease and gets pinged on the thigh pad.

FOUR! Nicely put away. Starc goes full and at the pads. Burns flicks it through the vacant mid-wicket region and picks up a boundary.

Short of a length, well outside off. Rory Burns' eyes lit up as he looks to thrash it away but just that hint of away movement and he gets beaten past the outside edge.

On a length, around off and left alone.

Slightly fuller, around off. Crawley in two minds and decides to leave it at the last second. The ball comes off the toe end of the bat and drops dead near Crawley.

Around the fifth-stump line and an easy leave for Crawley.

FOUR! Edged and just past third slip! A lovely delivery angled into middle and straightening away after pitching. Crawley gets squared up and the outside edge is found. The ball flies past Usman Khawaja's dive at third slip and races away into the fence.

That would have to be swinging in a mile to get the LBW decision. An in-dipper this time from Cummins. This one pitches well outside off and Crawley just strides out but offers no shot. The ball hits the pads but the umpire isn't interested.

On off. Defended off the front foot.

Ooh, that one did swing in a mile. Cummins bowls this one from wider of the crease and the ball swings in late as Crawley makes the leave.

Maybe just nipping back in a bit too much. A length ball, on middle and shaping back in. Crawley looks to punch it back but gets an inside edge onto the pads and that's what saved him.

Around the off stump and looking to bring it back in. Crawley shoulders arms.

A touch fuller and wider, at 149 kph. Crawley isn't interested in playing at that one.

Zak Crawley is off the mark. Over middle, Crawley wrists it towards fine leg for a single. A big cheer from the crowd as Boland collects the ball. Familiar scenes now. 

This is angled at the pads and swinging away. Burns looks to play it square but again looks to be falling over and gets hit on the pads. An appeal but not a big appeal.

Well bowled. Starc surprises Burns with a really full delivery, on middle and shaping away. Burns does well to get a bat on it.

A good-length ball, angled across the off stump. Burns makes an assured leave.

Cummins goes fuller and pushes it across the off stump. The ball is around 133 kph but this one just zips through and has good carry on it as well.

A touch shorter in length, around leg. Burns gets cramped for room and hit on the thigh pad.

Around the top of off and Burns hangs back to defend.

Length again, just a little bit wider. Burns edges it down through backward point with soft hands and picks up a couple.

Pitched up, in that channel around the off stump. This one holds its line but Burns makes an assured leave yet again.

Starc steams in first ball but spills it down the leg side. Burns looks for the flick but misses.

FOUR! Edgy boundary but Rory Burns is up and running. Starc angles this one in at off stump and the ball straightens after pitching. Burns gets squared up but luckily for him, the outside edge drops short and goes between third slip and gully for a boundary. He is off the pair. The change of hair has worked!

Good-length ball, angled into the body. Burns looks to tuck it away leg side but the ball just zips through and catches Burns in the mid riff.

Fuller one, at 144 kph and on off. Burns stands tall and drives it past extra cover for a single.

Starc looks to attack the pads and puts a bit extra behind this one as he bowls it around 147 kph. He spills it well down the leg side though.

FOUR LEG BYES! Just hasn't got his rhythm right yet, Mitchell Starc. On the pads again and Zak Crawley goes for the flick. The ball goes off the pads and races away into the fine leg fence. So, 9 off the first over. A positive start for the visitors.