Ashes 2021-22, Boxing Day Test: Boland shines in AUS emphatic win over ENG to retain the urn; netizens stunned
Australia has rattled England on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test of Ashes by an innings and 14 runs on Tuesday. Scott Boland's six-for has allowed the host to retain the urn. Here are the records scripted.
FollowIt was a sensational effort from Australia, as its bowlers were deadly to rattle England on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test for the Ashes 2021-22 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Tuesday. Pacer Scott Boland claimed a six-for in the second innings to subdue the English, as the Australians won by an innings and 14 runs. Consequently, the host retained the urn as the Twitter world was left dumbfounded.
England was struggling at 31/4 at stumps on Day 2. The visitor conceded a lead of 71 before it came out to bat on Monday, but it all went haywire within the last hour of the day's play, with the top-order departing for single figures. On Tuesday morning, skipper Joe Root (28) and Ben Stokes (11) were on a mission to save England from further embarrassment, but to no avail.
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While seamer Mitchell Starc got rid of Stokes, Boland sent Root back to end things for the English seemingly. It was a mere formality towards the end, as Boland cleaned up the remaining England batting line-up, claiming six and registering his career-best figures on debut. The Aussies were delighted, much to the celebration of the MCG crowd.
The job to retain the urn was dusted in just seven sessions of this Test and 12 days in the series. As the visitor stares at a new low and aims to buckle up for Sydney on January 5, the host will be determined to hand more humiliation to England and get the job done 5-0. Meanwhile, here are some of the notable records scripted.
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- Boland is the joint-fastest to a Test fifer in terms of deliveries (19) along with Ernie Toshack and Stuart Broad.
- Boland has conceded the least number of runs with a fifer on debut (7).
- Root has finished as the highest Test run-scorer in a year on most occasions (12).
- England has registered the most single-digit outs by its player in a year this time (82).
- Root has the best percentage of team runs scored in a calendar year this time (26.2%).
- England has lost the most number of Tests this year (9).
- James Anderson has registered the lowest Test batting average in a calendar year (4.10).
- Boland registered the best strike rate by a bowler on debut in a Test innings (4.00).
- Boland noted an S/R of 14.50 in the Test, the third-best on debut, having bowled ten overs at least, after Narendra Hirwani (12.60) and Akila Dananjaya (11.20).
