2017–18 Ashes series

2017–18 Ashes series
Part of English cricket team in Australia in 2017–18
The Magellan Ashes Series 2017–18 logo
Date23 November 2017 – 8 January 2018
LocationAustralia
ResultAustralia won the five-match series 4–0
Player of the seriesSteve Smith (Aus)
Compton–Miller Medal:
Steve Smith (Aus)
Teams
 Australia  England
Captains
Steve Smith Joe Root
Most runs
Steve Smith (687)
Shaun Marsh (445)
David Warner (441)[1]		 Dawid Malan (383)
Joe Root (378)
Alastair Cook (376)[1]
Most wickets
Pat Cummins (23)
Mitchell Starc (22)
Nathan Lyon (21)[2]		 James Anderson (17)
Stuart Broad (11)
Chris Woakes (10)[2]
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The 2017–18 Ashes series (named Magellan Ashes Series for sponsorship reasons)[3] was a series of Test cricket matches contested between England and Australia for The Ashes. The series was played at five venues across Australia between 23 November 2017 and 8 January 2018. England were the defending holders of the Ashes going into the series, having won in 2015.

Australia won the series 4–0, regaining the Ashes after taking an unassailable lead with an innings victory in the third Test.

Squads

 Australia[4]  England[5]

In September 2017, Ben Stokes was named in the initial England squad, but was subsequently ruled out of international selection until further notice while a disciplinary process took place.[6] The following month, he was withdrawn from the Ashes squad, pending an investigation, with Steven Finn added to England's squad.[7] However, Finn himself was then ruled out of the tour, injuring his knee prior to the first warm-up game.[8] Tom Curran was called up to replace him.[9] James Anderson was named as England's vice-captain for the Test series in Stokes' absence.[10] George Garton was added to England's squad as cover for Jake Ball during pre-Test tour matches,[11] but returned to the England Lions when Ball recovered in time for the first Test.[12]

Australia delayed naming its squad for the first two Tests until 17 November 2017, selecting Cameron Bancroft to replace Matthew Renshaw. Tim Paine returned to the team after a seven-year absence, ahead of Matthew Wade and Peter Nevill.[4] Before the first Test, Glenn Maxwell was added to Australia's squad as cover for David Warner, who injured his neck at training.[13] Mitchell Marsh was later added to Australia's squad ahead of the third Test, replacing Chadd Sayers.[14]

Australia's Mitchell Starc and England's Craig Overton were both ruled out of the fourth Test, with heel and rib injuries respectively.[15][16] Maxwell was replaced by Ashton Agar for the fifth Test.[17] England's Chris Woakes was ruled out of the fifth Test due to injury.[18]

Venues

The five venues were the Gabba, Adelaide Oval, the WACA Ground, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The WACA Ground was expected to host its final Test during the series, prior to the opening of the new Optus Stadium. However, it was said in November 2015 that construction of the new stadium was well ahead of schedule and the Perth Test could be hosted at the new venue.[19] A decision on the venue was made in May 2017,[20] with the WACA Ground confirmed as the venue, as the new stadium would not be ready in time.[21]

In December 2016, Cricket Australia (CA) were looking at hosting the first day/night Ashes match, with Adelaide being the likely venue.[22] On 12 December 2016, it was confirmed that Adelaide Oval would host the first day/night Ashes Test.[23]

Matches

First Test

23–27 November 2017
Scorecard
v
302 (116.4 overs)
James Vince 83 (170)
Mitchell Starc 3/77 (28 overs)
328 (130.3 overs)
Steve Smith 141* (326)
Stuart Broad 3/49 (25 overs)
195 (71.4 overs)
Joe Root 51 (104)
Josh Hazlewood 3/46 (16 overs)
0/173 (50 overs)
David Warner 87* (119)
Australia won by 10 wickets
The Gabba, Brisbane
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pak) and Marais Erasmus (SA)
Player of the match: Steve Smith (Aus)
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Due to rain and bad light, 9.3 overs were lost on day 1.
  • Cameron Bancroft (Aus) made his Test debut.
  • Tim Paine (Aus) equalled the record for the most consecutive Test matches missed between successive appearances for Australia (78).[24]
  • Mitchell Starc (Aus) took his 150th Test wicket.[25]
  • Cameron Bancroft and David Warner (Aus) broke the record for the highest unbeaten opening stand in a successful run chase in a Test match.[26]

Second Test

2–6 December 2017
(D/N)
Scorecard
v
8/442d (149 overs)
Shaun Marsh 126* (231)
Craig Overton 3/105 (33 overs)
227 (76.1 overs)
Craig Overton 41* (79)
Nathan Lyon 4/60 (24.1 overs)
138 (58 overs)
Mitchell Starc 20 (25)
James Anderson 5/43 (22 overs)
233 (84.2 overs)
Joe Root 67 (123)
Mitchell Starc 5/88 (19.2 overs)
Australia won by 120 runs
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pak) and Chris Gaffaney (NZ)
Player of the match: Shaun Marsh (Aus)
  • England won the toss and elected to field.
  • Due to rain, 9 overs were lost on day 1 and 18.5 overs lost on day 2.
  • Craig Overton (Eng) made his Test debut and took his maiden Test wicket.[27]

Third Test

14–18 December 2017
Scorecard
v
403 (115.1 overs)
Dawid Malan 140 (227)
Mitchell Starc 4/91 (25.1 overs)
9/662d (179.3 overs)
Steve Smith 239 (399)
James Anderson 4/116 (37.3 overs)
218 (72.5 overs)
James Vince 55 (95)
Josh Hazlewood 5/48 (18 overs)
Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
WACA Ground, Perth
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (SA) and Chris Gaffaney (NZ)
Player of the match: Steve Smith (Aus)
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Rain prevented play during the first session of day 5.
  • Alastair Cook was the first player for England, and the eighth overall, to play 150 Tests.[28][29]
  • Dawid Malan (Eng) and Mitchell Marsh (Aus) both scored their first centuries in Tests.[30][31]
  • Australia's first innings' total was their highest score in an Ashes Test at home.[32]
  • Australia regained the Ashes as a result of this match.[33]

Fourth Test

26–30 December 2017
Scorecard
v
327 (119 overs)
David Warner 103 (151)
Stuart Broad 4/51 (28 overs)
491 (144.1 overs)
Alastair Cook 244* (409)
Pat Cummins 4/117 (29.1 overs)
4/263d (124.2 overs)
Steve Smith 102* (275)
Joe Root 1/1 (3 overs)
Match drawn
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SL) and Sundaram Ravi (Ind)
Player of the match: Alastair Cook (Eng)

Fifth Test

4–8 January 2018
Scorecard
v
346 (112.3 overs)
Joe Root 83 (141)
Pat Cummins 4/80 (24.3 overs)
7/649d (193 overs)
Usman Khawaja 171 (381)
Moeen Ali 2/170 (48 overs)
180 (88.1 overs)
Joe Root 58* (167)
Pat Cummins 4/39 (17 overs)
Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SL) and Joel Wilson (WI)
Player of the match: Pat Cummins (Aus)
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.
  • The toss was delayed by 130 minutes due to rain.
  • Mason Crane (Eng) made his Test debut and took his maiden Test wicket.
  • Jonny Bairstow (Eng) played his 50th Test.[37]
  • Steve Smith (Aus) became the joint second-fastest batsman (in terms of innings) to score 6,000 runs in Tests.[38]
  • Alastair Cook (Eng) became the youngest player to score 12,000 Test runs.[39]
  • Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh became the fifth pair of brothers, and the third Australian pair, to score a century in the same innings.[40]

Statistics

As of fifth Test ending 8 January 2018

Leading run-scorers

Rank Name Runs Inns. NO HS Ave. 100s 50s SR
1 Australia Steve Smith 687 7 2 239 137.40 3 2 48.51
2 Australia Shaun Marsh 445 7 1 156 74.16 2 2 45.97
3 Australia David Warner 441 8 1 103 63.00 1 3 52.37
4 England Dawid Malan 383 9 0 140 42.55 1 3 42.69
5 England Joe Root 378 9 1 83 47.25 0 5 49.02
Source: ESPN cricinfo

Leading wicket-takers

Rank Name Wkts. Ovs. Mdns. Runs Eco. Ave. Best.
1 Australia Pat Cummins 23 197.1 43 567 2.87 24.65 8/119
2 Australia Mitchell Starc 22 162.3 32 518 3.18 23.54 8/137
3 Australia Josh Hazlewood 21 190.5 49 544 2.85 25.90 8/140
4 Australia Nathan Lyon 21 260.1 61 614 2.36 29.23 6/105
5 England James Anderson 17 223.3 70 473 2.11 27.82 6/117
Source: ESPN cricinfo

Broadcasting

The series was broadcast on television in Australia by the Nine Network.[41] As part of a five-year deal with Cricket Australia that commenced in 2016, BT Sport provided television coverage of the series in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[42]

References

  1. ^ a b "2017–18 Ashes series – Most runs". Cricinfo. ESPN Sports Media. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "2017–18 Ashes series – Most wickets". Cricinfo. ESPN Sports Media. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Magellan is the Presenting Partner of Men's Test Cricket in Australia". Magellan Financial Group. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Australia confirm Ashes Test squad". Cricket.com.au. Cricket Australia. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. ^ "England name Test squad for Ashes tour". England and Wales Cricket Board. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  6. ^ Martin, Ali (28 September 2017). "Ben Stokes and Alex Hales dropped by England until further notice". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Ben Stokes Ashes participation delayed, Steve Finn added to squad". BBC Sport. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  8. ^ "England bowler Steven Finn ruled out of tour with injury". BBC Sport. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  9. ^ Dobell, George (7 November 2017). "Curran to replace Finn in Australia". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Ashes 2017-18: James Anderson to be England vice-captain". BBC Sport. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  11. ^ Dobell, George (10 November 2017). "Garton called up as cover for England warm-up". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  12. ^ Macpherson, Will (20 November 2017). "Taunts and the tide of history await as England prepare to enter the Gabbatoir". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  13. ^ Smith, Martin (22 November 2017). "Warner confident, but Maxwell in as cover". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Australia recalls Mitchell Marsh for third Test". International Cricket Council. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Ashes: Mitchell Starc ruled out of fourth Test with heel injury". BBC Sport. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  16. ^ Dobell, George (24 December 2017). "Overton out of Boxing Day Test with fractured rib". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  17. ^ Smith, Martin; Cameron, Louis (30 December 2017). "Agar added to Aussie Test squad". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  18. ^ Ferris, Sam (3 January 2018). "Woakes injured, Crane to make debut". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  19. ^ Duffield, Mark (10 November 2015). "Perth stadium rises from the dust". The West Australian. West Australian and Seven West Media. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Uncertainty continues over venue for Perth Ashes Test". ESPN Cricinfo. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  21. ^ Middleton, Dave (25 April 2017). "WACA confirmed to host Perth Ashes Test". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  22. ^ Middleton, Dave (1 December 2016). "Australia set for day-night Ashes". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  23. ^ "Day-night Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval confirmed for 2017". ABC News. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  24. ^ Bermange, Benedict (23 November 2017). "Ashes Stats: Paine equals record". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  25. ^ Miller, Andrew (24 November 2017). "Smith leads Australia revival to leave Test in the balance". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Australia races to 10-wicket victory". International Cricket Council. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  27. ^ Shemilt, Stephan (2 December 2017). "Ashes: Australia on top after day one of second Test in Adelaide". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  28. ^ Cooke, Richard (12 December 2017). "Alastair Cook still committed to playing for England". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  29. ^ "3rd Test at Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth". ESPN Cricinfo. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  30. ^ Shemilt, Stephan (12 December 2017). "Ashes: Dawid Malan hits maiden Test century on day one in Perth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  31. ^ Ferris, Sam (16 December 2017). "Marsh silences critics with maiden Test ton". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  32. ^ Sundararaman, Gaurav (17 December 2017). "Australia's highest Ashes totals, and Cook's woes". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  33. ^ Ramsey, Andrew (18 December 2017). "Ruthless Australia regain the Ashes". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  34. ^ Wu, Andrew (26 December 2017). "Ashes 2017/18: Century for David Warner as Australia, England, battle on lifeless MCG pitch". The Age. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  35. ^ Sundararaman, Gaurav (28 December 2017). "Cook's double delight puts him in elite company". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  36. ^ Ransom, Ian (29 December 2017). "England opener Cook carries bat in record innings". Reuters. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  37. ^ Wilson, Dean (3 January 2018). "No butts! Hard-headed Jonny Bairstow deserves huge credit for reaching 50 Test caps says England predecessor Matt Prior". Mirror Online. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  38. ^ "Smith on verge of Ashes greatness". Wide World of Sports. Nine Digital. AAP. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  39. ^ Bermange, Benedict (7 January 2018). "Ashes Stats: Two paces of Cook". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  40. ^ Ferris, Sam (7 January 2018). "Brotherly love as twin tons match Waughs". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  41. ^ "Cricket announces $590m deal with Nine and Ten". ABC News. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  42. ^ Gibson, Owen (24 August 2015). "BT Sport secures rights to 2017–18 Ashes series in Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2020.