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'That's cruel': Cricket world stunned by 'heartbreaking' Ashes finish

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Jos Buttler, pictured here standing on his stumps after a brave knock in the second Ashes Test.
Jos Buttler stood on his stumps after a brave knock in the second Ashes Test. Image: Fox Sports/Getty

England's valiant attempt to salvage a draw in the second Ashes Test came to the cruellest end on Monday night when Jos Buttler stood on his stumps in extraordinary scenes at the Adelaide Oval.

Set 468 runs to win, the tourists were bowled out for 192 with some 21 overs remaining on the final day.

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Comeback quick Jhye Richardson took his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, but the locals had to overcome a stubborn knock from Buttler to prevail after the tea break.

Buttler made just 26 runs but soaked up 207 balls to give England an outside chance of a great escape.

However his brave knock came to an end in heartbreaking fashion when he was out hit wicket in the final session.

Playing a short ball from Richardson to cover, Buttler took off for a run only for his right heel to nudge into the stumps and gently dislodge the bails.

The Australians immediately noticed what had happened and started celebrating as Buttler looked on in disbelief.

Australian players, pictured here celebrating after Jos Buttler was dismissed hit wicket.
Australia celebrate after Jos Buttler was dismissed hit wicket. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/PA Images via Getty Images) (PA Images via Getty Images)

“What a way to get out,” Mark Waugh said in commentary on Fox Cricket.

Mark Howard added: “You can’t believe it. Buttler after 206 balls of resistance has taken off and trodden on his stumps and the ninth wicket falls."

Channel 7's Trent Copeland tweeted: “Oh man. Heartbreaking for Jos Buttler. Seriously well played."

Joe Root says England need to get better

Joe Root is convinced a humiliated England can conjure a Bradmanesque miracle and win the Ashes after going 2-0 down.

But Root says that can only happen if England learn in six days what they've had four years to study.

After being crushed by Australia in a 275-run defeat in the second Test, Root's side must win the three remaining Tests to reclaim the Ashes.

Only one team has ever come from 2-0 down to win an Ashes series: Don Bradman's Australians in 1936-37.

"I don't think that Australia are that much better than us in these conditions as the scorelines might suggest," Root said.

Root said he was "fine" after being struck twice in the testicles on Sunday.

Steve Smith and Aussie players, pictured here celebrating after winning the second Ashes Test.
Steve Smith and Aussie players celebrate after winning the second Ashes Test. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/PA Images via Getty Images) (PA Images via Getty Images)

But he admitted frustrated this England team, which lost the first Test by nine wickets, hadn't learnt the lessons from four years ago when Australia at home won 4-0.

"Four years ago we got it wrong and we didn't learn from it," Root said.

"We have got to learn those lessons very quickly over the next week.

"I am convinced that we have got what we need to win over here, it's just we need to be better.

"We can't keep making the same mistakes."

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith Smith hailed the performance of his bowlers, with Richardson's 5-42 complemented by Starc taking six wickets for the match and Nathan Lyon taking five.

"I wasn't getting nervous," Smith said of Buttler's knock.

"I was still pretty confident but it was bizarre the way that wicket happened.

"He gave them a bit of a sniff there for a while."

with AAP

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