Match Analysis

Misbah-ul-Haq is often criticised by followers of Pakistan cricket but the youngsters in his team would do well to learn some of his skills

Zimbabwe's batsmen have lacked staying power in the past. Their middle order reversed that trend and their handling of the spinners showed improvement

The performances of Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin were reasons for Irish pride but defeat highlighted shortcomings in the team

The uncertainty that prevailed before this Test threatened to drag Zimbabwe down. But Hamilton Masakadza's shrewd moves played no small part in ensuring they were capable of stretching Pakistan

A few more runs on the board more quickly and a few more overs to bowl England out and Australia might almost have had a sniff of victory at The Oval

It was a day where patience was tested all round; the batsmen showed, the bowlers used and the crowd had to find it

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the third day at The Oval

Steven Smith has shown more development than any other young Australia batsmen this year and after missing out at Old Trafford now has a hundred to show for it

The nucleus of this England side is not going to change overnight, but some key players are now the wrong side of 30 and will leave tough holes to fill when the time comes

Thrown in at the deep end and despite a promising record, Simon Kerrigan produced as wretched a performance as a specialist bowler has in Test cricket for many years

Shane Watson's innings was encouraging for Australia but its timing means the questions will remain for now

At 109 for 0 and then 147 for 1, Australia were well in command at Chester-le-Street but Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann had other ideas

Few of Australia's recent losses will hurt like the one at Chester-le-Street, because they know - they know - they should have won it

Nine wickets in a dramatic session saw England surge to a series victory, but that should not be allowed to gloss over the issues raised against Australia

Australia have got close to England a few times in the series only to be unable to quite catch them and when they have let chances slip they have done so in style

With his side in trouble again, Ian Bell produced another innings to transcend the situation and write his name in the Ashes history books

Chris Rogers scored a century that was scratchy, ugly and lucky. It was also the equal of any made by an Australian in the past 18 months

Weighed down by impossibly high expectations, Stuart Broad again produced a performance to hint at greatness

Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle have led Australia's bowling in this series, but it was their other three team-mates who stole the show in an opening day battle of patience and discipline

England's batsmen did not appear to know whether to stick or twist on the opening day, but should have followed the lead of their captain