Australia romp to 4-0 Ashes triumph

SYDNEY: Australia romped to an innings and 123-run win over England after dismissing the tourists for 180 on the final day of the fifth Test on Monday to complete a 4-0 Ashes triumph that fell short of a whitewash but was little less emphatic.

England captain Joe Root raced from his hospital bed, where he had been treated overnight for gastroenteritis, to try to rescue a facesaving draw but when he failed to reappear after lunch the die was cast for the tourists.

Australia’s bowling attack -- the potency of which has been one of the main points of difference between the two sides -- mopped up the last four batsmen at the cost of just 36 runs after the break at Sydney Cricket Ground.

“The cricket we have played has been outstanding,” said Australia captain Steve Smith, whose batting was another major factor in the triumph. “This team has been magnificent in this series, the cricket we’ve played has been great so I think the more we play together the more we are going to get better as a group. We have just got to keep getting better and improving as a team.”

All four of Australia’s main bowlers took more than 20 wickets over the series, with quick Pat Cummins coming out top with 23 England 1st innings: 346 (Joe Root 83, Dawid Malan 62, Mitchell Starc 2/80, Josh Hazlewood 2/65, Pat Cummins 4/80) Australia 1st innings: 649 for 7 declared (U. Khawaja 171, S. Marsh 156, M. Marsh 101) A. Cook b Lyon M. Stoneman lbw Starc 10 0 after removing Jonny Bairstow (38), Stuart Broad (4) and Mason Crane (2) on Monday.

Cummins was named man of the match for his total haul of eight for 119 while Josh Hazlewood performed the coup de grace when he had James Anderson caught behind for two. Nathan Lyon (three for 54) had taken the only wicket of the opening session as he continued his dominance of Moeen Ali (13), who has fallen seven times in nine innings to the off spinner in the series. JM Vince c Smith b Cummins J. Root retired hurt D. Malan lbw Lyon J. Bairstow lbw Cummins M. Ali lbw Lyon T. Curran (not out) S. Broad c Paine b Cummins M. Crane c Paine b Cummins

Australia’s batsmen also played a full part in the return of the coveted urn, with Mitchell Marsh, his brother Shaun and Usman Khawaja all getting into three figures as the hosts made 649 declared in their reply to England’s first innings 346.

“Everyone’s had an impact and that’s what has been so special about it, it hasn’t just been one or two guys stepping up and doing the job,” Smith added.

Despite Smith’s determination to share the credit, he was the in- evitable selection as player of the series after scoring 687 runs at an average of 137.4, backing up his status as the world’s top batsman.

“I am really proud of the way that I have played in the series and led from the front,” he said. “My mind is probably in as good a space as it has been with my batting.”

England managed only three centuries to Australia’s nine over the series, with Smith alone matching their tally. Full story @ timesofoman.com/sports