Australia Choked

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The Third Test today was won by England and Australia have only themselves to blame. Ben Stokes played a marvelous innings in what should have been a lost cause. Chasing 359 for a win and a record 4th innings chase England had no right to get even close and win. England had one wicket left with over 73 runs needed, a win looked highly unlikely.

We have seen teams in the past throw games from winning positions because they couldn't handle the pressure and Australia were woeful when the big moments surface. I can recall Kluesner and Donald at the World Cup semi final having a brain freeze moment all those years ago. They couldn't escape the choking tag that was labelled on the team for decades. Australia have finally taken on that tag in style after today's performance.

Stokes was dropped on the boundary, although it was a difficult chance when England still needed a good 40 runs to win. The bowlers started to fall apart and what had put them in a strong position by bowling line and length fell apart. Lyon missed a clear cut run out which he did twice today missing the ball altogether whilst standing right by the stumps. It is the small things that matter and doing the basics right in pressure situations.

Australia appealed and asked for a leg before wicket review which was clearly missing and threw away something that would come back to haunt them. England only needed a handful of runs and they were desperate. If they had kept their cool though they could have used it the very next over and won.The very next over they had Stokes plum in front and they appealed.The one and only review they had left was squandered in desperation the over before. Replays showed it going on to hit middle and leg stump and there was nothing they could do. The umpire Joel Wilson had turned their appeal down thinking it was going to miss. This is the second massive umpiring decision that has gone in England's favor in the last two months. The World Cup one was a shocker which took a victory away from New Zealand.

With that the game had gone as Stokes bludgeoned his way to an unbeaten century and a vital win for England. I don't mind as it keeps the series alive and anything can still happen. If Australia had won today they would have retained the Ashes and now it is still up for grabs.