The Cricketer reflects on all the action at the end of the fourth day of the fifth Test
England finished day four in an all too familiar situation, fighting to save a Test.
There were hundreds for the Marsh brothers earlier in the day before Australia's bowlers took out four of England's top order.
The Cricketer picks out some of the talking points of the day's play.
Jimmy Anderson continues to defy those who say his body can't keep up. Anderson - situated under the hottest of suns - bowled a sublime spell in the morning session. He had Shaun Marsh - a batsman settled in with a hundred to his name - in all sorts of trouble and conceded just 56 runs from 34 overs in the innings. This contest represents the most deliveries Anderson has ever bowled in a series.
What about the the effort of @jimmy9 today at the @scg
— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) January 7, 2018
40 degrees and over 1300 balls bowled for the series and still steaming in! #respect @TripleMSydney @btsportcricket
An absolute example from Anderson. Third new ball, in brutal heat, 5th Test match, body is sore, 500 plus on the board, and he's causing all sorts of problems at good pace. What dead rubber?
— Dean Wilson (@CricketMirror) January 7, 2018
James Anderson has now bowled 1,239 maidens in Tests.
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 7, 2018
That equals the @englandcricket record set by Derek Underwood. #bbccricket #ashes pic.twitter.com/CtDr99HWP8
How hot was the sun exactly? According to Brett Lee, and we have no reason to disbelieve him, really hot.
😮 47.1 degrees 😮
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 7, 2018
The weatherman @BrettLee_58 informs us it's the hottest day EVER recorded in Sydney 🌞#ItsTheAshes #Ashes pic.twitter.com/QqHZstptVk
It was a fine day for the Marsh family at the SCG. Shaun and Mitchell both scored their second hundred of the series as Australia made England sweat in Sydney. They were also keeping their on skipper on his toes when they got the celebrations started a little early...
Steve Smith's reaction 😂😂 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/C3uIDPwver
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 7, 2018
The pair joined some other illustrious siblings who have scored Test hundreds together at the crease.
Brothers both reaching 100 in the same Test innings with the other brother batting at the same time:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) January 7, 2018
I & G Chappell Aus v WI at Bridgetown 1973
I & G Chappell Aus v NZ Wellington 1974
M & S Waugh Aus v WI Kingston 1995
S & M Marsh today@AlisonMitchell #bbccricket
Mason Crane has joined a couple of unwanted lists in the course of this Test match. Not only has he conceded the most runs by an England player on Test debut, he finds himself in the top five of most runs conceded in an innings by any player playing in their maiden Test.
Mason Crane's debut figures are among the worst in Test historyhttps://t.co/AjSWObjgn6 pic.twitter.com/CAgPGceUEF
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 7, 2018
If it feels like England's attack have been up against it since November and that Australia have been batting forever, it's because they have been.
How's stat?!
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 7, 2018
This is the most overs England have bowled in a series against any opponent since sending down 1013.4 in the 1994-95 Ashes.
Australia 578/5 at the lunch break with a lead of 232.
👉 https://t.co/3ULcqn4l6z#Ashes #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/QP3dCxbmzj
It is unlikely Cook will allow himself to dwell on it for too long, but amidst haze there was another landmark for the England opener. Cook is just the sixth batsman to pass 12,000 Test runs.
Youngest to 12 000 runs:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) January 7, 2018
A Cook 33 yrs, 13 days
A Tendulkar 35 yrs, 176 days.
Tendulkar is youngest to 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000
Cook is youngest to 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000,11000, 12000#bbccricket
Australia's four-man bowling attack are on course to make history. All four have taken 20 or more wickets in the series, and if no Australian outside the quartet takes a wicket tomorrow, it will be the first time the wickets in a five-Test series have been shared between just four bowlers.
Only four bowlers - Cummins, Lyon, Hazlewood & Starc have taken wickets for Australia in this series.
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 7, 2018
If it stays that way, it'll be the first time in Test match history that a team has gone through a five-match series with only four bowlers taking wickets.#Ashes #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/3mMGBW4MNy
We'll just leave this here...
This is the first Ashes series since 1994/95 with all 5 Tests going to 5 days.
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) January 7, 2018
MORE FROM THE CRICKETER: WATCH: Cook passes 12,000 Test runs
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