Australia's desperation and England's defiance deliver another memorable SCG Ashes chapter

Days like this, the fifth one of a Test with the result still in the balance, have a tried and true rhythm to them.

They'll generally start slowly, not helped by the conspicuous lack of a crowd or energy in the ground. Both teams need half an hour or so to rub the sleep out of their eyes and finish their warm-ups.

Then there will be sudden life, a handful of wickets from the team chasing victory. At that stage, it will look like things could wrap up quickly and neatly, with a convenient surrender and some early handshakes.

But then there's a partnership. Because, in nearly every innings, no matter how bad, there's always at least one partnership.

At that point, the match will hit the skids, and the fielding team will seem out of ideas.

Then, as anxious glances start finding their way towards the overs remaining in the day, there will be a wicket. And suddenly there's life in the match again.

The bowlers charge in a little harder and bowl a little faster, and the fielders will swarm with purpose. The shadows lengthen and the light fades, and the sick feeling fills stomachs on both sides of the game's equation.

If you're lucky, the story won't be complete until the very last ball.

At the SCG on Sunday, we were incredibly lucky.

The day took every twist and turn right on cue, meandering up until the point Captain Cummins lit the touchpaper and the England tail were left fighting like hell to put the flame out.

Cummins bowled the two best balls of the match to ignite it, removing Jos Buttler and Mark Wood LBW within the space of three deliveries.

And, when Scott Boland dismissed Jonny Bairstow a few overs later, the thrilling but predicted Australian victory looked nailed on.

But the unlikely triumvirate of Jack Leach, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson resisted, aided by the dying of the light and the forced introduction of spin at both ends.

Anderson vs Steve Smith in the final over of a match would have been a contest to savour had their roles been reversed, but Smith's leg spin didn't trouble England's not-out king.

A draw then, one which may not have felt like a win for England but certainly feels a lot better than whatever the last three Tests dished up.

Australia's pursuit of a 5-0 series ended only by the setting of the sun and a few pesky tailenders.

And a gripping reminder for all of us what Test cricket can be at its best.

Ash Barty wins Adelaide International title in straight sets

Ash Barty has claimed her second Adelaide International title in three years to complete a perfect start to her 2022 season.

The world number one underlined her firming Australian Open title favouritism with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win over 14th-ranked Elena Rybakina on Sunday.

Hours later, the Wimbledon champion also took out the women's doubles final with partner Storm Sanders, securing a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win over Croatian Darija Jurak and Slovenian Andreja Klepac.

Her straight-sets victory over Rybakina improved Barty's record against top-20 rivals to a super impressive 17-1 since the beginning of last year.

The top-seeded hope also beat teenage prodigy Coco Gauff, 2020 Australian Open champion Sofin Kenin and 2020 French Open winner Iga Swiatek en route to lifting a 14th trophy of her career.

Barty will head to this week's Sydney Tennis Classic brimming with confidence ahead of the Open starting on January 17.

One of the heaviest hitters in women's tennis, Rybakina challenged Barty early, rocketing down the fastest serve of the tournament as games went with serve until 3-3.

Barty found herself double break point down at 15-40 in the seventh game.

But, as she has done all tournament, the world number one produced her best tennis while under the gun to hold serve, with an ace, an induced error and two huge crosscourt forehands.

In 2020 at Memorial Drive, frustrated at missing her moment, Rybakina dropped her serve a flurry of unforced errors as Barty forged to a 5-3 lead.

Momentum firmly on her side, Barty gained another break in the opening game of the second set as Rybakina's double-faulting proved costly.

The match was all but over when Barty clinched the double break to power to a 4-0 lead, before Rybakina formally submitted after just 64 minutes.

Story By | Dean Bilton