Australia would be hurting after their performance in the Manchester Test match in Ashes 2023. Speaking on Sky Sports after the conclusion of the game, the former England batter said that he expects Australia to come come out with a fighting spirit in the final Test match of the series.
“The Oval Test, regardless of the fact the urn is not up for grabs, is going to crackle and fizz,” Butcher said on Sky Sports.
“Australia will be hurting after their performance here and their bowlers will want to show they can’t be bullied and smashed for six an over,” he further added.
England dominated over Australia in the fourth Test match of the Ashes series. Australia avoided a defeat after the match ended in a draw due to incessant rainfall in the final day of the Manchester Test match.
After dismissing Australia for 317 in the first innings in little over a day’s time, England dominated with the bat. This was largely due to the dazzling performance of opener Zak Crawley, who scored a phenomenal 189 from just 182 balls in the first innings. This won him the player of the match award. Jonny Bairstow also contributed significantly, smashing an unbeaten 99, most of it in a last-wicket partnership with James Anderson.
England’s bowling attack was equally impressive. Mark Wood’s hostile pace and timely insertions into the attack made the difference as he dismissed Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Travis Head cheaply to pass 100 Test wickets. Chris Woakes also bagged David Warner, reducing Australia to 113-4 in its second innings by stumps on Day three.
“Some of the batters still have things to prove about scoring runs here in the UK and none of their players have won a series in England,” Butcher said about the Australian batters.
