Amazing Aussies in Ashes triumph
Double-ton skipper Steve Smith declared the victory “amazing — a moment that we’ve been looking forward to for a long time”.
“So much has gone into this preparation and Ashes series and the way we’ve gone about it has been spectacular,” he said.
“Four hundred in the first innings is a good total and to be able to come out and get a massive score and only have to bat once in this fixture [is incredible].
“The boys are going to celebrate really hard tonight I can assure you of that.
“What an amazing feeling, to win an Ashes series, my first as captain, be 3-0 up and get that urn back.”
On the second morning of the match England was in control at 4-368.
The final damage was a loss by an innings and 41 runs with a session to spare.
England coach Trevor Bayliss claimed the pitch had become “dangerous” overnight after moisture mysteriously seeped under the covers and left some soft and wet patches.
Umpire Chris Gaffaney agreed the surface had been “altered”, but officials gave the green light for the match to proceed, prompting headshaking from England skipper Joe Root, who later gave full credit to the victors.
“It’s very difficult to take — fair play to Australia. They outplayed us in all three games and we’ve got to be better,” Root 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.”
While a farcical finish for the WACA as an Ashes Test venue was avoided, the resumption of play after 28 overs lost did nothing to stop the controversy.
Hazlewood immediately exploited the very patch that ground staff 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.
Bairstow shook his head and smiled as if to reference the unplayable nature of the conditions, but Hazlewood roared down the pitch to celebrate as Australia looked to lift.
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.
After rain interruptions right up until 1pm, the rain finally stayed away and Australia immediately got to work on claiming the six wickets that would win back the urn they lost in England 2½ years ago.