Australia has swept England 16-0 in a record Ashes demolition

Australia has claimed a historic Ashes clean sweep at the MCG in a completely ruthless demolition of England.

England's Tammy Beaumont reacts to being bowled by Australia's Alana King. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

A ruthless Australia needed no more than three days of the series-ending Test match at the MCG to clinch a famous Ashes whitewash.

The Aussies – among all their triumphs – added another historic first to their decorated record by sealing the first ever women’s Ashes clean sweep.

Records tumbled as they did all series on day three, with Beth Mooney converting her overnight score of 98no into a maiden Test century in the first over of the day.

Mooney’s 106 from 173 deliveries etched her further into Australian cricket folklore as she became the first Aussie female to score a century in each format.

She joined David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson as the only Aussies to have scored triple figures in Tests, One-Day Internationals and Twenty20s.

Mooney, who hit 409 runs at an average of 68 in the series, was dropped three times before reaching 20.

Her century inflicted further pain on England after Annabel Sutherland blasted the tourists for a magical 163 on Friday.

Australia was eventually dismissed with a lead of 270 in front of a 11,804-strong crowd.

Beth Mooney wrote herself deeper into Australian cricket history on day three. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

England’s second innings started in similar fashion to its first with Maia Bouchier, a walking wicket this summer, departing cheaply to seamer Darcie Brown.

Bouchier scored 42 runs at an average of six across the multi-format tour, failing to reach double figures all but twice for a best of 17.

Tammy Beaumont (47) and Heather Knight (32) shared a 73-run stand in a small English fightback but it was short-lived as they lost 5-17 and sunk to 7-117 at dinner.

It was spinners Alana King and Ashleigh Gardner, bowling in tandem for 47 overs straight, who ploughed through the English in a symbolic finish to the tour.

King claimed 5-53 and Gardner 4-39, as Australia won the Test by an innings and 122 runs and the series 16-0.

King finished the series with 23 wickets – equalling Gardner’s record-best in 2023.

Alana King celebrates her 23rd and final wicket of a famous Ashes win. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

KING’S STUNER

Super spinner Alana King held one of her best balls of the summer for the grand stage.

King ripped a leggie from a leg stump line to kiss the top of Sophia Dunkley’s off stump.

Dunkley was one of the few England batters who could say they got a good one during the tourists’ horror collapse.

Former Australian quick Brett Lee questioned how many cricketers in the world would have kept King’s fizzer out.

“Is that Mike Gatting batting? That is Warne-like,” Lee said.

“Not many players in the world would be able to get bat on ball with that one.”

Ellyse Perry (R) made an unusual cameo on day three. (Photo by William WEST / AFP

PERRY’S ODD INNINGS

Injured gun Ellyse Perry made a brief and bizarre appearance with the bat on Saturday.

She had been under an injury cloud since day one after landing awkwardly and hurting her hip in the field.

Cricket Australia said on day two Perry would only bat if required but she emerged when the Aussies lost their eighth wicket 267 runs ahead of England.

Perry looked in discomfort during her short stay at the crease (2 off 7 balls) and did not field.

The small score lowered Perry’s Test average from 62 to 58 and was the first time she has been dismissed in a day-night Test.

Originally published as Australia has swept England 16-0 in a record Ashes demolition