Australia has retained the Ashes, and they are making a mockery of Bazball in England’s den. England is known for its attacking approach in Test Cricket that has decimated many opponents before they went face to face with the Australian Team. In the 5th Ashes Test, Australia batted in completely opposite manner from Bazball. They have defended and shown solid defence and broke a decade-old record. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne were in no hurry even though the Australians were on top in the game. They have tired up the English fielders with their grinding partnership.
Khawaja and Labuschagne formed a 42-run partnership in 26 overs for the second wicket. The run rate in their partnership amounted to just 1.61 per over. With this partnership, they have formed a unique record of scoring at the slowest pace in the Ashes history. Marnus Labuschagne, in particular, was in no mood to score. He played with a strike rate of 10.97 to score 9 runs in 82 balls before being dismissed by Mark Wood.
Lowest partnership run-rates in Ashes Tests (min. 150 balls faced)
1.61 – Usman Khawaja & Marnus Labuschagne, The Oval, 2023
1.75 – Michael Carberry & Joe Root, Adelaide, 2013
1.75 – Steve Smith & Mitchell Marsh, Melbourne, 2017
1.86 – Phil Hughes & Shane Watson, Sydney, 2011
1.94 – Steve Smith & Marnus Labuschagne, Adelaide, 2021
*where data available
Lowest strike-rate for an Australia batter in an Ashes innings (min. 75 balls faced)
8.82 – Carl Rackemann, Sydney, 1991
8.86 – Ron Oxenham, Melbourne, 1929
10.97 – Marnus Labuschagne, The Oval, 2021
12.98 – John Maclean, Melbourne, 1978
14.16 – Graham Yallop, Sydney, 1979