Ashes 2017: Australia have reclaimed the urn after victory in the third Test in Perth
AUSTRALIA has won back the Ashes in emphatic style after Josh Hazlewood farewelled the WACA with the trait the ground will forever be linked with – outstanding fast bowling.
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UPDATE: STEVE Smith shed tears of relief and joy in the Australian dressing room before placing himself on the hunt for another Ashes whitewash.
Australia won back the Ashes in emphatic style on Monday night after Josh Hazlewood farewelled the WACA with the trait the ground will forever be linked with – outstanding fast bowling.
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England are on their knees with several senior players on the ropes and now facing the stark realisation that they could suffer a third 5-0 humiliation on Australian soil in the past 11 years.
Former England star Kevin Pietersen has already declared that one of Stuart Broad or James Anderson should be axed for Boxing Day, after Australia stormed to a 3-0 advantage on the back of a Hazlewood five-wicket haul and a batting masterclass from man-of-the-match Smith and prodigal son Mitchell Marsh.
For England it’s the third time in 12 months they’ve been in relative control of a Test match having scored 400 in the first innings, only to collapse to an innings defeat.
Smith can smell blood in the water, but on Monday night the emotions poured out of an Australian captain determined to lead from the front, who has achieved part of a life-long dream.
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“I was crying in the sheds a bit a minute ago,” Smith said.
“Everything just came out.
“We have worked incredibly hard. It has been a great couple of weeks and I am really proud of everyone back in that room.
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“I’d love to do that (win 5-0). I was part of the series obviously back in 2013-14 when we did that and it was an amazing part of my life and everyone else’s who was involved as well
“I’d love to do that again but we’ll just take it one step at a time at the moment and first of all enjoy the success we’ve had over last couple of weeks and have a good celebration.”
Smith was full of praise for his bowling attack who have taken 60 wickets in the first three Tests – despite losing the toss and having the worst of the conditions in all three.
Australia defied the embarrassing fiasco of groundstaff having to get rid of wet patches on a length before play could resume on day five – but the loss of 28 overs didn’t affect them as Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins ripped in.
Smith’s side started the series a lowly No.5 in the world, but the skipper believes they can be on the road back.
“I’d like to hope this team can keep growing and getting better and keep working our way up the rankings and just try and get better and gelling as a team,” he said.
“We’ve still got a long way to go but this has been an incredible couple of weeks and one I’m sure we’ll look back on in time and just be so proud of what we’ve achieved.”
England captain Joe Root said: “It’s very difficult to take. Fair play to Australia they outplayed us in all three games and we’ve got to be better.”
Speaking about the pitch, he said: “When we got here this morning definitely it wasn’t fit to play. It did dry up and by the end there it was probably fit to play.”
On the second morning of the match England were in control at 4-368.
The final damage was a mammoth loss by an innings and 41 runs with more than a session to spare.
Hazlewood immediately exploited the very patch that groundstaff had been so feverishly trying to dry and harden up with industrial leaf blowers, and the ball appeared to stay low as it cleaned up Jonny Bairstow’s off-stump.
An over later Hazlewood hit the giant crack that lay adjacent to the soft patches and the ball deviated 6.14 degrees from the point of impact and ended up a Steve Harmison-like distance to the left of the first slip.
Nathan Lyon trapped bunny Moeen Ali plumb lbw when there was no turn to click things into gear.
When Hazlewood managed to sneak an edge down the leg-side from a brave Dawid Malan (54) the fight was virtually over.
Cummins, who barely pitched a ball up all day, removed Stuart Broad, who had little idea about a short one whizzing past his chin and edged behind.
Then Cummins ripped in first ball to No.11 James Anderson and struck him viciously on the helmet, leaving a visible mark.
Play stopped as the Australians ran to his aid, another sign that Australia has mentally got inside the heads of the English tail with their sheer pace.
Anderson padded up again but the end was nigh, with Cummins finishing the job by taking the edge of Chris Woakes and sparking huge celebrations.
