Ashes Highlights - Fifth Test, Day Five

Watch highlights of a highly dramatic fifth and final day's play of the final Ashes Test at The Oval which ended in a draw as England claimed the series 3-0.

England hit quick runs after avoiding the follow-on and were bowled out for 377. Australia also looked to score quickly in their second innings in a bid to set up a game, declaring on 111 for six.

After tea, the crowd were treated to a compelling session as England, through Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen pushed hard to reach their victory target only for bad light to bring the game to a premature end with four overs remaining.

It meant that England won the series without dropping a match and Australia are still to win a Test since January.

The playlist above also includes interviews with victorious captain Cook and England coach Andy Flower.

Videos courtesy of the England & Wales Cricket Board

© Cricket World 2013

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Ashes Highlights - Women Go 4-2 Up

Watch highlights of England's five-wicket victory over Australia in the third Women's Ashes One-Day International at Hove.

England took a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series and claimed the ODI series 2-1 as Heather Knight and Sarah Taylor both scored half-centuries.

Taylor had earlier taken a stunning catch to dismiss Jodie Fields as Australia were restricted to 203 for four in a game reduced to 36 overs per side.

Knight and Taylor put on a record 126 runs together before England got home with 16 balls remaining.

Video courtesy of the England & Wales Cricket Board

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Five-Wicket Win Gives England Ashes Lead

Heather Knight hits out during her half-century at Hove

England 204-5 (Knight 69) beat
Australia 203-4 by five wickets
Third Women's Ashes ODI, Hove

England beat Australia by five wickets in the third Women's Ashes One-Day International in Hove to take a 6-4 lead in the series.

A record-breaking second-wicket partnership of 126 between Heather Knight (69) and Sarah Taylor (64) helped England reach 204 for five with 16 balls remaining in a match that had been reduced to 36 overs per side by bad weather.

Australia, thanks to 64 from Meg Lanning, had posted a competitive 203 for four but were eventually beaten, and find themselves behind in the series for the first time.

Although Lanning made runs at the top of the order, new opening partner Alyssa Healy fell without scoring to Anya Shrubsole and it needed runs from Jess Cameron (28), Jodie Fields (29), Ellyse Perry (45 not out) and Alex Blackwell (35 not out) to get the innings back on track.

Fields was superbly caught by Taylor as she tried to reverse sweep Danielle Hazell, who finished with figures of two for 36.

Charlotte Edwards then fell for eight when England came out to bat but unlike at Lord's, her team-mates responded well.

Knight faced 65 balls, hitting five fours while Taylor faced 59 balls with six fours in their partnership which took England close to the win, their runs together breaking the previous record for an England second-wicket partnership against Australia in an ODI.

However, the match was back in the balance when both were dismissed in quick succession and when Lydia Greenway (18) and Arran Brindle (11) also fell cheaply, Australia had England under pressure.

Enter Natalie Sciver, playing just her fourth ODI, who played a composed knock of 18 not out in as many balls to guide England home alongside Jenny Gunn, on three.

Erin Osborne's haul of three for 49 was a fine effort but unfortunately for her side, not a winning one.

The three remaining matches in the series are the Twenty20 Internationals, the first of which is at Chelmsford on 27th August.

Two more wins for England will guarantee a series win while Australia can suffer no further defeats if they are to retain the Ashes.

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Gallery - England's 2013 Ashes Winners

Alastair Cook - 277 runs @ 27.70 - a modest return by his own standards, but led the team well

Image gallery reviewing the Ashes 2013 series and the England squad that won the series 3-0.

England used just 14 players during the series, keeping faith with the same side for the second, third and fourth Tests and playing debutants Simon Kerrigan and Chris Woakes in the final game at The Oval with the Ashes retained and the series won.

Images © REUTERS / Action Images

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Video - Captains React To Ashes Nail-Biter

Watch as England and Australia captains Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke give their thoughts on a thrilling final day's play at The Oval.

England won the Ashes 3-0 following a dramatic day in London, which ended when the players were taken from the field due to bad light with four overs remaining.

England were 206 for five having been set 227 to win and there was widespread condemnation of the ruling that denied the crowd and the players a grand finale.

Michael Clarke earned plaudits for his declaration at tea which set up the match, and he explained that he was prepared to risk losing to try to win the game.

"That's the way I would like to see cricket played and I would certainly like to see the Australian team playing in that type of manner," he said.

"I think we had nothing to lose - obviously 3-0 down and to me, even if we weren't 3-0 down, you have got to try and do everything you can to win the Test match."

Meanwhile, Cook spoke about what winning an Ashes series as captain means to him.

"It has been an intense time, but also a very proud time for me," he said.

"You know, we have had some real tough moments as a side. But, you know, the character we have shown throughout the series, when runs needed to be scored, they were scored, when wickets needed to be taken. I think that is the hallmark of a good side."

Video courtesy of SNTV

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Ashes Highlights - Fifth Test, Day One

Watch session-by-session highlights of the opening day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval and hear from England fast bowler James Anderson.

Australia won the toss and thanks to Shane Watson's 176, won the day as England's pair of debutants Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan struggled to contain Australia's number three batsman.

Anderson took two wickets and Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann one apiece as the tourists, 3-0 down in the series, closed the day on 307 for four.

Videos from the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

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Ashes Highlights - Fifth Test, Day Three

Watch session-by-session highlights of day three of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval and hear from England's top scorer Joe Root.

England closed an attritional day on 247 for four, still 245 runs adrift, thanks to half-centuries from Root (68) and Pietersen (50).

Alastair Cook fell for 25, Jonathan Trott 40 while Ian Bell (29) and Chris Woakes (15) were unbeaten at stumps.

Videos courtesy of the England & Wales Cricket Board

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Ashes Highlights - Fifth Test, Day Two

Watch session-by-session highlights of day two of the fifth and final Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval.

The start of the day's play was delayed by rain but once the match got back underway, Australia continued to enjoy the better of proceedings.

Steve Smith reached his maiden Test century and Australia declared on 492 for nine before England reached 32 without loss in reply.

Videos courtesy of the England & Wales Crciket Board (ECB)

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England Level Ashes Series At Hove

England celebrate the dismissal of Australian opener Rachael Haynes

England 256-6 (Edwards 53) beat
Australia 205 (Cameron 81) by 51 runs
Second Women's Ashes One-Day International

England beat Australia by 51 runs in the second Women's Ashes One-Day International at Hove to draw level in the series at four points apiece.

Once again, Charlotte Edwards led from the front, top scoring with 53 as England put up a score of 256 for six, which they were able to defend relatively comfortably.

Jess Cameron made 81 for Australia before they were bowled out in the 49th over for 205.

England chose to open with Edwards and Heather Knight and the pair set the tone with a partnership of 45 in seven overs.

Knight fell for 31 in 26 balls and after her early charge, Sarah Taylor (32), Lydia Greenway (46), Arran Brindle (42) and Natalie Sciver (20 not out) added useful runs to support Edwards.

She made 53 in 84 balls with five fours and although Sarah Coyte and Jess Jonassen grabbed a brace of wickets England had reached a score that was always going to challenge Australia.

Their task was added to when both openers Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning fell without scoring to Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole respectively.

Cameron, whose 81 came in 108 balls and included 10 fours, then helped Australia stay in the game with the aid of Jodie Fields (20) and Alex Blackwell (23) before a critical phase of the game saw England snaffle three wickets for 13 runs.

Blackwell was caught and bowled by Jenny Gunn, Ellyse Perry was run out by Greenway and Erin Osborne was caught and bowled without scoring by Holly Colvin.

Coyte made 16 but was run out soon after Cameron's vigil was ended by Brunt and although Jonassen hit an unbeaten 34 in as many balls at the end, England were not to be denied.

Another run out, this time from Brunt, saw off Megan Schutt and the game was won when Colvin had Holly Ferling caught by Gunn for three.

The Test match that opened the new-look series was drawn and Australia won the opening ODI at Lord's by 27 runs.

The third ODI, also at Hove, is on Sunday 25th August.

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Podcast - Fifth Ashes Test Preview

Alastair Symondson and John Pennington preview the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, where Alastair was keeping up to date with all the latest developments.

In London (having also passed by Lord's in the morning), Alastair relays the latest news regarding the teams' preparations, whether England might be tempted to play two spinners, what changes either side might make and the pair finish off with their predictions.

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The Duckworth-Lewis Method Talk Ashes Cricket

Neil Hannon and Thomas Walsh of cricket band The Duckworth-Lewis Method discuss the 2013 Ashes series and give their predictions ahead of The Oval Test.

The pair talk about Peter Siddle, challenging Cricket World's John Pennington to explain why he doesn't take the new ball, England's decision to play two debutants at The Oval, pick out their highlights of the series so far and then predict what might happen at the fifth and final match of the series.

Third Man, the latest single from The Duckworth-Lewis Method is out on 26th August and features Daniel Radcliffe. We will be posting a sneak preview of the track and an in-depth interview with the band soon.

Duckworth-Lewis Method can be followed on Twitter @duckworthlewis and visit http://www.shootmatchday.com/ for more information.

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Ashes gossip column

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Ashes venues: Old Trafford

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Clarke says Ashes win still possible

Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, ManchesterDate: 1-5 AugustStart time: 11:00 BSTCoverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 4 Long Wave and via the BBC iPlayer Radio app, BBC Sport website & BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on BBC Sport website, app & mobile devices

Captain Michael Clarke admits "people may laugh" at his claim Australia can still win the Ashes, but he insists his team can turn the series around.

Australia need to win the third Test at Old Trafford, which starts on Thursday, to keep the five-match series alive.

The tourists have lost six Tests in a row but Clarke believes victory in Manchester will give them momentum.

"Our backs are against the wall but I honestly believe we can still win the series," he said.

"I know a lot of people will laugh at that but I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could - we can shake up this series."

After their narrow defeat in the first Test, Clarke said Australia could still win the series.

When he repeated the claim in a pitch-side interview after the tourists had been crushed in the second Test at Lord's, the crowd burst into laughter. 

The Australians have recalled batsman David Warner, who was suspended after punching England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar in June, to their squad after he scored 193 for their A team in their recent match with South Africa A.

But Clarke, who stepped down as a selector in the wake of former coach Mickey Arthur's sacking, is unsure whether the 26-year-old will earn a recall.

"I think David was extremely apologetic at the time," said Clarke.

"He knows what the expectations are for Australian cricket and I am very confident he has learned from what has happened in the past."

All-rounder Steve Smith did not train on Wednesday as he nurses a bad back and Warner could replace him if he fails to recover in time.

Spinner Nathan Lyon is widely expected to replace 19-year-old Ashton Agar, who has struggled with the ball in his first two Tests despite scoring a Test record 98 as number 11 at Trent Bridge.

England's hopes of retaining the Ashes by avoiding defeat at Old Trafford were boosted on Wednesday by the news that batsman Kevin Pietersen's chances of being fit are "pretty good", according to captain Alastair Cook.

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How the Ashes can ruin your life

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VIDEO: England stars urge Ashes caution

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VIDEO: Owzat! Making the Ashes cricket ball

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VIDEO: We can still win Ashes - Clarke

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Tremlett And Panesar Earn Ashes Recalls

Tremlett And Panesar Earn Ashes RecallsChris Tremlett will be hoping to play his first Test of 2013 at Old Trafford.

As expected, England have named both James Taylor and Kevin Pietersen in an enlarged 14-man squad for Thursday’s third Ashes Test at Old Trafford, with the latter hoping to recover from a calf strain in time to take his place in the eleven.

Elsewhere, in a slightly more surprising move, both Graham Onions and Steven Finn have been dropped, with Chris Tremlett and Monty Panesar taking their places. Tremlett has been battling to regain full fitness for much of the season and trained with England during the Lord’s Test, obviously impressing them. Panesar, meanwhile, will provide an extra spin option should the pitch in Manchester look like taking turn. However, with Root’s off-spin, it seems very unlikely that he will make the final eleven.

National selector, Geoff Miller, said: “The players worked hard at Trent Bridge and Lord’s to get into a very good position in this Investec Ashes Series but will be fully aware that there is still a great deal of cricket left in the series. The players have had some time this week to recover following back to back Tests and an opportunity to work on aspects of their game and they will arrive in Manchester determined to build on their performances over the last two Tests.

“Kevin Pietersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and he will be assessed by the medical team closer to the start of the Test and we have therefore included an extra batsman in James Taylor who has been in good form for Nottinghamshire this season. Chris Tremlett has worked hard to regain fitness and form following a couple of injuries and his performances for Surrey this season have been very encouraging. Including an additional spinner in Monty Panesar who has plenty of international experience provides Alastair Cook and Andy Flower with a number of options.”

England Test squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, James Taylor, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar.

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Tremlett And Panesar Earn Ashes Recalls

Tremlett And Panesar Earn Ashes RecallsChris Tremlett will be hoping to play his first Test of 2013 at Old Trafford.

As expected, England have named both James Taylor and Kevin Pietersen in an enlarged 14-man squad for Thursday’s third Ashes Test at Old Trafford, with the latter hoping to recover from a calf strain in time to take his place in the eleven.

Elsewhere, in a slightly more surprising move, both Graham Onions and Steven Finn have been dropped, with Chris Tremlett and Monty Panesar taking their places. Tremlett has been battling to regain full fitness for much of the season and trained with England during the Lord’s Test, obviously impressing them. Panesar, meanwhile, will provide an extra spin option should the pitch in Manchester look like taking turn. However, with Root’s off-spin, it seems very unlikely that he will make the final eleven.

National selector, Geoff Miller, said: “The players worked hard at Trent Bridge and Lord’s to get into a very good position in this Investec Ashes Series but will be fully aware that there is still a great deal of cricket left in the series. The players have had some time this week to recover following back to back Tests and an opportunity to work on aspects of their game and they will arrive in Manchester determined to build on their performances over the last two Tests.

“Kevin Pietersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and he will be assessed by the medical team closer to the start of the Test and we have therefore included an extra batsman in James Taylor who has been in good form for Nottinghamshire this season. Chris Tremlett has worked hard to regain fitness and form following a couple of injuries and his performances for Surrey this season have been very encouraging. Including an additional spinner in Monty Panesar who has plenty of international experience provides Alastair Cook and Andy Flower with a number of options.”

England Test squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, James Taylor, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar.

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