A fifth Ashes Test victory is now still possible – on two conditions

afr.com:

Weather and strong batting permitting, Australia have a fighting chance of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat on the fifth and final day of the fifth Test of a thrilling Ashes cricket series.

Impressive, disciplined performances at the crease by Australian openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja put the tourists at 0/135 when rain stopped play at the Oval in South London halfway through day four.

David Warner in action on day four of the fifth Test. Reuters

This means Australia is still 249 runs short of victory. But with all 10 wickets in hand, and facing a tiring English attack, Pat Cummins’ team could smash all second innings run-chase records at the Oval, and return home in triumph.

However, the challenge remains formidable.

As the series now stands at 2-1 in Australia’s favour, with the fourth Test at Old Trafford ending in a draw, the Ashes will remain in Australia, irrespective of the final result at the Oval.

That said, the scenarios for how this hotly contested series will end include a 3-1 (with one draw) or a 2-1 (two draws) Australian victory, or a 2-2 (with one draw) overall tie between both sides.

Forecast rain could, once again, interrupt play and force a draw on the last day of a dramatic 2023 Ashes series – the latest iteration in an Australia-England cricket rivalry that dates back nearly 150 years.

But an Australian victory at the Oval, which is now possible, seemed the least likely scenario as day four began.

An already highly charged Oval crowd became more passionate as the Australian team formed a guard of honour for veteran English fast bowler Stuart Broad, who announced his retirement overnight.

Broad and fellow English quick James Anderson, who celebrated his 41st birthday on Sunday, were