The Ashes 2023 cricket series came to a dramatic end in the 5th Test Match at the Oval, with England defeating the Aussies by 49 runs in a match that swung from one side to the other. However, the series ended in a stalemate, 2-2, with Australia retaining the Ashes that they had won down under two years ago. Aussies missed the services of Nathan Lyon. Nathan Lyon was injured after the Lord’s Test match which hurt the visitors.
Australia looked favorites to clinch the series having won the first two test matches and going 2-0 up in the series, England bounced back with their ultra-aggressive batting approach mixed with some smart bowling and with additional help from mother nature to level the series culminating one of the most fiercely fought Ashes of all time. Former Australian player and coach Justin Langer admitted that the injury to Nathan Lyon proved as a telling factor in the last 3 tests of the Aussies.
Injuries are a part of the game, but he is such an integral part of this Australian team that his absence was costly – Justin Langer
In his column to one of the dailies, Justin Langer also penned down Australia’s approach in the last three tests against England’s much revered Bazball. Langer acknowledged the exciting prospect of Bazball approach to the spectators and its intimidating nature to any opponent, including Australia’s world-class bowling attack.
“Australia were on the back foot when England’s batters married together ultra-aggression with batting smarts. From afar, this ‘Bazball’ style of batting was exciting to watch.” said Justin Langer.
Nathan Lyon sustained a calf injury during the second Test at Lord’s and had to miss the remaining Tests. This injury prompted Australia to try various bowling combinations, which even included fielding an all-pace attack, but none of them seemed to fill the void left by Nathan Lyon.
Australia will look back on this series and ask themselves what changed after the second Test at Lords – Justin Langer
The former Australian opener believed that Australia followed a traditional approach to the game with old-school defensive field settings and conservative batting, hoping to wear down the aging English bowling attack and capitalizing on that toward the tail end. Langer agreed to the general consensus and said that the final score of 2-2 was a fair result of the manner in which the series was played.
“In the end, a two-all result is probably fair. The series has been so close, it would be a brave person to declare a clear winner,” he added.
Despite their inability to reclaim the series, England would be happy to have bidden adieu to two of their key players – Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad in a fine fashion.
Also Read: Ashes 2023: Chris Woakes And Moeen Ali Help England Level The Series 2-2