England set Australia 384 to win the fifth Ashes Test

Scott Bailey | July 30, 2023

Australia need 384 to win the fifth Ashes Test after England were bowled out for 395 early on the fourth morning at The Oval.

With the stands full to celebrate Stuart Broad’s career and the paceman given a guard of honour onto the field after announcing his retirement, the seamer hit Mitchell Starc for six in the first over.

It would be the last ball he faced in Test cricket, after Todd Murphy had James Anderson lbw in the following over.

The wicket took Murphy’s figures for the innings to 4-110, while Starc finished with 4-100.

After arriving in England determined to win their first Ashes series in the country in 22 years, Australia now need a monumental effort to achieve the feat.

To win the match, Pat Cummins’ men must break a 121-year-old record and better the current highest fourth-innings chase at The Oval of 263 by England in 1902.

The chase would also be the eighth-highest in Test history at any ground, and Australia’s best since 1948.

Australia could also survive the best part of six sessions to try to draw the match and win the series 2-1, with some limited rain forecast for Sunday evening.

Still, Australia have been left to rue a poor day with the bat on day two, after falling from 1-91 to all out for 295 in reply to England’s first-innings 283.

The tourists then bowled poorly in the first session on day three as they let England slip away, before eventually having them 9-389 at stumps.

Zak Crawley (73), Joe Root (91) and Jonny Bairstow (78) scored quickly for the hosts, taking the game away from Australia.

England will also be buoyed on by the chance to farewell Broad with a win, with his long-standing partner-in-crime Anderson celebrating his 41st birthday on Sunday.