England bask in Ashes glory
Updated on 23 August 2009
England's bowlers dismiss Australia to clinche the Ashes series with a 197-run victory on the fourth day of the final test.
The England team regained the Ashes from Australia after defeating the tourists 2-1 in the series. Australia, who were set a world record 546 to win the final test, were dismissed for 348. Ricky Ponting's team needed only a draw to retain the urn.
Michael Hussey (121) was immovable for almost six hours for Australia. But they still finished 348 all out on the fourth evening as a late three-wicket burst from Stephen Harmison helped England complete an npower series-clinching 197-run win.
The day started with Australia openers Simon Katich and Shane Watson both going lbw in consecutive overs - leaving the tourists 102 for two after just half an hour.
Katich was first to go, in the fifth over of the morning, misreading this unusually straight ball by spinner Grahame Swann.
His departure brought Ricky Ponting to the crease - and in place of the boos from the home support which have accompanied him throughout the summer, this time there was a standing ovation.
But four balls after Katich left the scene, Watson also fell short of his half-century thanks to Stuart Broad.
Andrew Flintoff at last had a telling impact on his final Test as he ran out Australia captain Ricky Ponting with a direct hit shortly after lunch. It was a pivotal moment in the England hero's final match.
Moments later Ponting's replacement, Michael Clarke, was also run out for a duck by England captain Andrew Strauss. North, next up to bat for Australia, was promptly stumped after failing to ground his back foot.
Hussey went on to score a century, giving a little relief to the visitors, before his latest partner Brad Haddin was caught out by Strauss. Replacement at the crease Johnson was then also caught out for a duck.
Siddle was the caught out by Flintoff, with the next wicket, Stuart Clark, falling swiftly afterwards.
Last night England had set the touring side a world record 546 to win the fifth and final Ashes test after Jonathan Trott scored 119 in his maiden test.
Mike Gatting told Channel 4 News that the victory was comparable to England's Ashes victory in 2005. The former England cricket captain told Samira Ahmed: "We had to win the match, we did and there were some great performances along the way."
Gatting said Flintoff "wasn't at his best" after injury, but said: "You can't keep him out of the show for very long, and it was a very, very crucial run-out of Ricky Ponting at a very crucial time."
On the future for England cricket, he added: "I think that [Jonathan] Trott showed something that England have been lacking, which is somebody who had got some character in the middle order, that when he gets in, stays in, and looks solid. That really does bode well for the future.
"Stuart Broad, who people really thought should be dropped before Headingley, came back and actually produced probably one of the best spells of bowling in test cricket for a long time."
