Australia have set themselves up to have a red-hot crack at chasing England’s target of 384 in the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Oval.
While the total looked mammoth at the start of the visitors’ final innings of the series on Day 4, the Aussies find themselves at 0/135 at stumps, just 249 runs in arrears with 10 wickets in hand.
David Warner and Usman Khawaja remain on 58 and 69 not out overnight.
Given that a victory at the Oval would hand Australia a 3-1 Ashes series win while a loss would allow England to level the series at 2-2, there’s plenty resting on the final day of the last Test.
If Australia achieves a miraculous victory, here are some records they’ll topple in the process.
The second highest run-chase in Ashes history
The highest run-chase in Ashes history took place in 1948 at Headingley with Australia chasing England’s target of 403 with just four wickets lost.
Legendary figures Arthur Morris (182) and Donald Bradman (173 not out) were the two players that led Australia to victory in that game.
Australia’s target of 384 is 25 more than the 359 England and Ben Stokes chased nine wickets down in the 2019 Test, also at Headingley.
The eighth highest run-chase in Test history
Test cricket has been played since 1877 and only seven times has more than 384 been chased in the fourth innings.
The highest run-chase ever was achieved by the West Indies against Australia in 2003 when the home side mowed down the target of 418 seven wickets down in Antigua.
Something that plays in Australia’s favour is that seven of the top nine run-chases in Test history have occurred since 2003.
The highest ever run-chase at The Oval
This one’s a bit more niche, but the highest-successful run chase at the venue is just 263 which was achieved by England in the 1902 Ashes.
That was run chase was 121 years ago and 121 runs less than what Australia are attempting to reel in.
England also chased that total nine wickets down.
Australia’s first away Ashes series win since 2001
While Australia have been the world’s best cricket side in the 21st century, they haven’t won an Ashes Test series in England since 2001.
A win at the Oval would give the visitors a 3-1 series victory.
Since 2001, Australia has lost 1-2 (2005), 1-2 (2009), 0-3 (2013), 2-3 (2015) and drew the 2019 campaign 2-2.
David Warner’s first Test century in England
While David Warner doesn’t need to score a century for Australia to win, a triple-figure score would go a long way in securing the unlikely victory.
In what may be his last ever Test and certainly his last Test in England, Warner is up against it given he has never scored triple figures in an away Ashes clash.
From his 25 Test centuries, 19 have come at home and six have come away with two against Bangladesh, three against South Africa and one against Pakistan.
Play resumes at 8pm (AEST) on Monday night when Warner and Khawaja embark on the huge chase.
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