SYDNEY, (Reuters) – England won the fifth Ashes test by an innings and 83 runs today to claim a first series triumph in Australia in nearly a quarter of a century.
The tourists, who had already ensured they would retain the famous urn, needed a little more than 17 overs to remove Australia’s last three batsmen on day five of the final test to win the series 3-1.
Australia have lost series by bigger margins but in more than 130 years of test cricket they had never conceded three defeats by an innings or more in a series against any country.
Resuming their second innings on 213 for seven, still 151 runs behind England’s gargantuan first knock of 644, Australia needed to bat out the last day if they were to claim an unlikely draw.
Morning rain showers looked like being their best hope but once they cleared after a delay of 40 minutes in the first hour, England’s march to victory was only a matter of time.
Peter Siddle was the first to go but not before he had notched his highest test score of 43.
The seamer was furious with himself after spinner Graeme Swann tempted him into a sweep which James Anderson caught at the boundary in front of the massed ranks of England fans.
England took the new ball two overs later and Anderson soon made the second breakthrough with a fizzing ball that Ben Hilfenhaus, who had made seven runs in 14 minutes, got an edge on to be caught behind.
Debutant Michael Beer was the final wicket to fall, bowled by Chris Tremlett for two to leave Australia all out for 281 to add to their first innings 280.
Steve Smith had reached his second test half century and was unbeaten on 54.
Free entry had ensured a half full house as the tourists performed the final rites but it was dominated by England fans with the Barmy Army’s songs and chants echoing around the famous ground.
They celebrated wildly as England, just four years after they suffered a first Ashes clean sweep in 86 years on the 2006-07 tour, matched the achievement of Mike Gatting’s touring party of 1986-87.
After a drawn first test in Brisbane, England won the second in Adelaide by an innings and 71 runs before Australia fought back to claim the third in Perth by 267 runs.
England again dominated the fourth test in Melbourne with an even more comprehensive victory, an innings and 157 runs, to ensure they would retain the urn they won back from Australia last year in England.
