‘Exceptional’ Australia claim Ashes
PERTH: Steve Smith praised his “exceptional” team as Australia reclaimed the Ashes with an innings win over England in the Third Test in Perth yesterday, and set his sights on a series whitewash.
Australia dismissed England for 218 in their second innings after rain delays and a pitch controversy on the final day in Perth to win back the urn in the last Ashes Test to be played at the WACA Ground.
That gave the home side an innings-and-41-run win and an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the fivematch series, having won the opening two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.
“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks,” said Smith.
“What the boys have delivered has been exceptional. England have had their foot in the door in a couple of games and we’ve been able to claw our way back to get back in the game, and then keep the foot on the throat.”
Having confirmed his status as the world’s best batsman with a match-winning double century, Smith added victorious Ashes captain to his ever-expanding resume.
That CV also includes a role in the 5-0 whitewash of England on their last tour to Australia, and Smith said his team would now seek to repeat that achievement.
“It’d be fantastic to do that and we’ll talk about Melbourne when we get there.”
“Right now, I’m just really satisfied with what we’ve achieved in these first three Test matches.”
“I’d love to do that again, but we will just take it one step at a time.”
While it was a comfortable win for the home side in the end, there was high drama on the final day courtesy of yet another WACA pitch controversy.
Victory seemed assured for Australia when they had England 132 for four at the conclusion of the fourth day, still 127 runs behind, but a rain-damaged pitch threatened to foil the home side.
Showers had caused play to be abandoned early on the fourth day and they continued through to yesterday morning, with Australia needing just six more wickets to win.
Complicating matters further was a damp spot on the pitch, just outside the popping crease at the southern end of the ground.
WACA staff worked furiously with leaf blowers to try to dry the patch out as more showers passed through.
Umpires Chris Gaffaney and Marais Erasmus would not allow play to resume until they believed the pitch had been returned to the same condition as at the end of day four, which ended up being after lunch.
Wickets tumbled quickly for England upon the delayed resumption, with Jonny Bairstow bowled for 14 by the first delivery he faced for the day from Hazlewood, which kept low.
Hazlewood also removed England’s last hope Dawid Malan — who backed up his first innings century with a fighting 54 before being caught behind — to finish with figures of 5-48.
Malan’s first day heroics, which helped England a dominant position at 368-4 from which an innings defeat would have appeared almost impossible, seemed a distant memory as he trudged from the field.
Only seven sides in Test history have been beaten by an innings after scoring 400 in their first innings, and it has happened to England three times in its last 12 matches.
z VISAKHAPATNAM: Opener Shikhar Dhawan’s blazing century and a decisive spell by their wrist spinners powered India to a series-clinching eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third oneday international on Sunday.
Chasing 216 for victory, India rode on a 135-run partnership between Dhawan (100 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (65) to romp home in 32.1 overs.
Dhawan completed his 12th ODI hundred in 85 balls, his knock laced with 13 fours and two sixes, before taking India to their eighth consecutive ODI series victory since June 2016. AFP