Matthew Wade’s defiant century proved in vain as England bowled Australia out for 263 to win the final Test at The Oval by 135 runs on Sunday and ensure the first drawn Ashes series since 1972.
Wade had looked set to take the match into the final day but he was dismissed for 117 and England grabbed the last two wickets in quick succession to level the series at 2-2.
England had appeared to be on course for a comfortable triumph when they dismissed Steve Smith for 23 just after lunch but Wade dug in to post his fourth Test century and Australia, who have retained the Ashes, fell short in their bid for a first Test series win in England since 2001.
Australia, chasing a stiff target of 399, lost the wickets of Marcus Harris, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne in the morning after England had added 16 runs to their overnight score of 313 for eight.
Harris was bowled by Stuart Broad for nine and Warner’s miserable series was completed when he edged Broad to Rory Burns at third slip for 11.
The in-form Labuschagne, on 14, was drawn forward by a flighted delivery from spinner Jack Leach and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow whipped off the bails with the right-hander narrowly out of his crease.
Australia took lunch on 68 for three and their victory chances plummeted further with Smith’s dismissal.
The prolific right-hander was caught by Ben Stokes at leg slip off Broad, the first time in 11 Test innings against England that he had failed to pass fifty. Smith left the field to a standing ovation from the crowd in recognition of an extraordinary run of form which brought him 774 runs in the series including a double century and two hundreds in seven innings.
“It’s been an amazing couple of months in England, the cricket has been spectacular, the series has ebbed and flowed, loved every minute and proud to have been able to perform for Australia and bring the urn home. You always want to get better as a player and I’ll continue to work hard. Nothing is ever too much,” Smith said after the match.
The 30-year-old missed the third Test because he was suffering from concussion symptoms after being struck on the neck by a Jofra Archer bouncer in the second match at Lord’s.
Wade reached his fifty before Mitchell Marsh perished for 24, caught by Jos Buttler at short leg off the part-time spin of England captain Joe Root.
Australia captain Tim Paine, on 21, was trapped lbw by Leach but Wade, shaken up by a fiery spell from Archer, maintained his concentration and punched the air with delight after reaching his second century of the series.
Pat Cummins departed for nine, edging Broad to Bairstow, and Wade’s resistance was finally broken when he was deceived by Root and Bairstow completed his second stumping.
Nathan Lyon swept Leach low to Root at square leg and Josh Hazlewood chipped his first ball to mid-wicket where Root took a brilliant one-handed catch to spark wild celebrations among the England players.
Captain Root, after the match, said: “We were excellent this week, having lost the toss, to play as we did was fantastic, we drove the game all the time, and got there in the end. Jofra makes things happen, and he’s backed up with other skilful bowlers. Collectively, we’ve shown a lot of character throughout the whole series. Not always at our best but we’ve fought really hard.”