Ashes 2021-22: Twitterverse Reacts As England Hang Onto A Draw In Sydney As Australia Fail To Take Last Wicket

The fourth Test match of the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 between Australia and England ended in an exciting draw, as the visitors hung on with just one wicket in hand on Sunday, January 9, 2022, despite the hosts desperately trying to register a win and keep their hopes of a 5-0 clean sweep alive.

Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first with the hosts scoring 416/8d with the first day of the match getting affected by rain. Usman Khawaja made 137 on his return to the Test team after three years. Steve Smith made 67, while the tail wagged as well. Stuart Broad picked 5/101 after playing his second Test in the series.

In reply, England managed 294 runs with Jonny Bairstow slamming 113 and Ben Stokes making 66 runs. Scott Boland continued his fairytale picking four wickets. Usman Khawaja slammed another century in the second innings, making 101*, while Cameron Green made 74, with Australia declaring at 265/6d and setting England a target of 368 runs to win the match.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

England Struggle With The Bat, But Hang Onto A Draw On Day Five

Joe Root’s England had a huge task at hand to either chase the huge target or bat out for a draw and they managed to do one of the tasks successfully. Zak Crawley made 77 runs at the top, despite Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan falling in single-digit scores. Joe Root made 24, while Stokes made his second half-century of the match.

Bairstow also made 41, but in the end, Jack Leach (26) and Stuart Broad hung around enough, while James Anderson managed to play out the entire final over from Steve Smith to earn a famous draw for the visitors, a small morale booster after being thumped in three previous Test matches.

Usman Khawaja was named the Player of the Match for his 137 and 101*, though many thought Australia wasted valuable time waiting for Green to make his maiden century and should have declared once Khawaja reached his three-figure mark.

However, both cricket fans and experts unanimously lauded England’s courage and batters’ will to bat out of their skins to earn a draw for their team and avoid a possible white-wash in the Ashes 2021-22.

Here are some of the tweets:

Great climax to Sydney Test, taut and spilling over with suspense, England holding on for a draw against huge odds, ensuring against a possible whitewash. Should Cummins have declared earlier will be debated for a long time. What do you think? #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

2022 is going to be a great year for Test cricket #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->s<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S

— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

Cummins with a toe crusher that would make Wasim & Waqar proud ? 2 wickets in the over from the captain. Advantage Australia? Or can England hang on?

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

I had no dog in the fight … yet that last over was soooooooo nerve wracking!!!!! GOTTA LOVE IT! #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

2 legends with the ball Anderson and Broad make a superb 12 ball unbeaten last wicket partnership with the bat to save the 4th #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s test for England. Great final day test cricket p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->S<!---->U<!---->A<!---->7<!---->Y<!---->9<!---->Z<!---->8<!---->7<!---->8

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

Only one man and one bat for that situation…@<!---->j<!---->i<!---->m<!---->m<!---->y<!---->9 #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->P<!---->A<!---->L<!---->X<!---->L<!---->G<!---->F<!---->y<!---->0<!---->g

— Gray-Nicolls (@graynics) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

Brilliant fight from @<!---->e<!---->n<!---->g<!---->l<!---->a<!---->n<!---->d<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t. This squad has had everything thrown at them and to fight out a day like that with that bat shows huge character and resilience. Well done the golden oldies @<!---->S<!---->t<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->t<!---->B<!---->r<!---->o<!---->a<!---->d<!---->8 and @<!---->j<!---->i<!---->m<!---->m<!---->y<!---->9 at the end!! #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->Q<!---->r<!---->J<!---->M<!---->p<!---->7<!---->V<!---->T<!---->E<!---->n

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

The best game in the world, test cricket. Congratulations England
????#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s<!---->T<!---->e<!---->s<!---->t #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G

— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

test cricket in 2022 so far.a team being walloped holds on to a gallant draw. a total underdog beats the world champions on their home turf. a struggling home team fights back to level terms and set up a delicious decider. and we are barely a week in!#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s #<!---->N<!---->Z<!---->v<!---->B<!---->A<!---->N #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

And @<!---->j<!---->i<!---->m<!---->m<!---->y<!---->9 and @<!---->S<!---->t<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->t<!---->B<!---->r<!---->o<!---->a<!---->d<!---->8 hold on and deny Australia. @<!---->s<!---->t<!---->e<!---->v<!---->e<!---->s<!---->m<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h<!---->4<!---->9 did get Leach and it was a classic Test match in the end. England will be happy with the fight.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

It didn’t produce the Result but what a Test match this one was! England survived by the thinnest of margins #<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s @<!---->S<!---->o<!---->n<!---->y<!---->S<!---->p<!---->o<!---->r<!---->t<!---->s<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->m<!---->G<!---->I<!---->9<!---->7<!---->3<!---->1<!---->G<!---->G<!---->Z

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

Courage and fight ???

A brilliant Test match ends in a draw.

Scorecard: h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->z<!---->U<!---->e<!---->2<!---->P<!---->T<!---->h<!---->J<!---->e<!---->A#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s | ?? #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G ?? p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->F<!---->d<!---->I<!---->j<!---->a<!---->F<!---->R<!---->g<!---->O<!---->L

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

Well done England. Given everything, that is an amazingly creditable draw.

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

What a finish in Sydney! Couldn't take my eyes off the action. I find the idea that survival is glory to be wonderfully endearing

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

James Anderson and Stuart Broad survived last 12 balls of a Test match, incredible Test at SCG.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

so what's the point of something where two teams go at each other for five days yet neither wins

this!#<!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->e<!---->s

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2