The English beat Australia by 49-runs to level the series at two-all after the team from down under was in a strong position to win the series outright for the first time in England since 2001.

The Baggy Greens needed to score 383-runs in the second innings to win the Test and the Ashes, however, they were bowled out for 334-runs thanks to 4/50 by Chris Woakes while Moeen Ali took 3/76.

Australia resumed their second innings on 135/0, but after a lengthy rain break in Kensington, they experienced a specular batting collapse by losing their last six wickets for just 70 runs.

Upfront, Ushman Khawaja, scored 72, David Warner had a knock of 60, while the former captain, Steven Smith, added 54 to the score. Travis Head also had a more than handy innings of 43-runs.

It was rather fitting that the lanky seamer, Stuart Broad, took the final wicket of the Australian innings, that that of Todd Murphy, is the last of his 604 wickets he took in 167 Tests. Just days earlier the 37-year-old announced that he would be retiring from Test cricket at the conclusion of the Ashes.

Chris Woakes was named as the Player of the Match for his 3/61 and 4/50, while for his 19 wickets was also named as England's Player of the Series. The Mitchell Starc was named as Australia's Player of the Series for his 23 wickets.

The drawn series means that Australia retain the Ashes.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport