The Ashes: Steve Smith's Hundred Guides Australia to a Draw at MCG

Australian skipper Steve Smith’s magnificent hundred and Mitchell Marsh’s rearguard on the final day sealed a draw for the host Australian in the fourth Magellan Ashes Test series at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Smith registered his 23rd Test century – and third of this series – then instantly declared the innings closed and shook hands with counterpart Joe Root to signal the end of the Test midway through the final session.

Overnight batter David Warner became the first to depart on the fifth day, gifting his wicket to the England captain Joe Root having scored the slowest Test fifty of his career. Shaun Marsh then became the second thanks to a brilliant reflex catch by Jonny Bairstow after Stuart Broad found the edge to leave Australia four down before going for the lunch break.

Australia batted through the opening 90 minutes to boost their hopes of salvaging a draw. A light shower forced play to stop during last day’s morning session, at which point Australia was 2-159.

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Australian coach Darren Lehman admitted that his side has given up the hopes of winning after Alastair Cook registered a record-breaking knock of 244 runs on day three. However, his counterpart Trevor Bayliss mentioned after day four that unbeaten batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith loomed as imposing roadblocks on a slow pitch that has hardly broken up.

England notched up 491 runs in the first innings with the help of Cooks unbeaten knock of 244 after Australia’s 327 runs in the first innings after the winning the toss and elected to bat first.

Cook ended his horrific time in Ashes and hit back at all the criticism with the willow in hand as he hammered his way to fifth double hundred of his career. Cook remained unbeaten on 244 which will provide a major boost for the visitors in upcoming matches.

Also Read: Alastair Cook struck fifth double ton, admits he feared for his spot

The 22-year-old Tom Curran made his debut for the England team as he replaced Craig Overton, who was ruled out with a rib injury. Curran bowled with great zeal and showed a lot of prospects.

Australia has already regained the Ashes Urn by beating Australia 3-0 in the first three matches of the Ashes series. Both the teams will lock horns against each other for one last time in the longer format of the game when they meet each other at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 4.

Brief Score: Australia 1st Innings: 327 (Warner 103) Stuart Broad 4/51.

England 1st Innings: 491 ( Cook 244*) Pat Cummins 4/117

Australia 2nd Innings: 263/4 (Smith 102*) Stuart Broad 1/44

Match Drawn.

Also Read: Twitter Lauds Alastair Cook for Stunning Double Century at the ‘G’