‘Bit of a running joke in the team to see the number one leggie’ - Pat Cummins on battle between 'bowlers' Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne

The fourth Test of the Ashes series ended in a draw after the English team managed to play the entire fifth day and made 270 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Both the teams will now move to Hobart to play the fifth Test of the series. Australia has already won the series after defeating England in the first three Test matches of the series. England last won a Test match in England in 2011 and would be looking to improve their records in the next Test match.

During the last few minutes of the fourth Test match, the umpires decided that only spinners would be allowed to bowl because it got really dark. Pat Cummins introduced Steve Smith who had already bowled two overs and given away eight runs. Smith dismissed Jack Leach on the last ball of his over and Australia went an inch towards victory. However, Smith couldn’t dismiss James Anderson in the last over and the match ended in a draw.

“Bit of a running joke in the team about a bowl-off (between Smith and Marnus) to see who the No.1 leggie is in the team,” Cummins said during the post-match interview.

Marnus Labuschagne also bowled two overs while giving away nine runs but could not pick a wicket. However, Labuschagne has been really going strong with the bat. He is the leading run-scorer in the ongoing series. Labuschagne has made 286 runs in four matches at an average of 47.67 and has made one century and two half-centuries.

Steve Smith picked a wicket after six years

Smith has taken 18 wickets in 81 Test matches at an average of 53.88. He last picked a wicket in November 2016 against South Africa during the first Test of the series. Smith dismissed Vernon Philander during the second innings who made 73 runs.

On the other hand, Labuschagne has picked 12 wickets in 22 Test matches at an average of 45. He has not taken a wicket in Test cricket since December 2019. He last picked a wicket against New Zealand as he dismissed Tom Blundell, who had made 121 runs off 210 balls and Australia won that match by 247 runs.