LONDON, (Reuters) – Stuart Broad transformed the fifth and final Ashes test between England and Australia at the Oval with a devastating spell of quick bowling in the afternoon session on yesterday’s second day.
Broad, the fifth bowler used by captain Andrew Strauss, responded with five for 37 as Australia collapsed to 160 all out after tea in reply to England’s first innings 332.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann proved an able lieutenant with four for 38, taking all his wickets after he was switched to the Pavilion end. England must win to regain the Ashes.
Australia openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich weathered some fierce bowling by Andrew Flintoff in his final test to take their team to 73 for no wicket after 75 minutes had been lost to rain either side of lunch.
Broad then proved the man for the moment, cutting the ball both ways off a pitch giving assistance to speed and spin.
He started by trapping Watson lbw for 34 with the final delivery of his first over.
Ricky Ponting got off the mark with an inside edge which rocketed past his off-stump to the boundary. He played and missed at the next delivery, a leg-cutter which climbed past the bat.
The Australia skipper, who had looked distinctly uncomfortable, dragged the final ball of Broad’s third over on to his stumps and was out for eight.
Michael Hussey followed for a duck from the third delivery of Broad’s next over, lbw for no score, and Australia’s best batsman in the series Michael Clarke made only three before he drove Broad low to Jonathan Trott at short cover.
Clarke’s dismissal gave Broad three wickets for no runs off nine balls.
Swann took over as the England enforcer, dismissing Marcus North lbw for eight with a ball which television replays indicated had come off the inside edge.
The spinner followed up with the wickets of Katich, snapped up at short-leg for 50, and Mitchell Johnson (11), smartly caught off an outside edge by keeper Matt Prior.
Stuart Clark became Swann’s fourth victim, caught by Alastair Cook at short-leg from a ball which seemed to have evaded bat and glove and Flintoff completed the rout by bowling Ben Hilfenhaus for six.
Earlier, Hilfenhaus wrapped up England’s first innings after the home side resumed at 307 for eight.
James Anderson was lbw for no score, his first duck in his 55th test innings, and Broad caught at slip for 37.
