Australia reclaim Ashes:
PERTH. - Australia thrashed England by an innings and 41 runs in the third Test cricket in Perth yesterday to reclaim the Ashes with two matches to spare and condemn Joe Root’s team to a period of gloomy introspection.
Having confirmed his status as the world’s best batsman with a match-winning double century, Steve Smith added victorious Ashes captain to his ever-expanding resume as England were dismissed for 218 in their second innings in the last Ashes Test to take place at the Waca Ground.
That gave the home side an innings-and-41run win and an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the fivematch series, having won the opening two tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.
Pat Cummins secured the famous urn for the home side when he had Chris Woakes caught behind for 22, prompting Australian celebrations. But while it was a comfortable win, there was high drama on the final day courtesy of yet another Waca pitch controversy.
And Australian captain Smith paid tribute to some bold selections after his team regained the Ashes in Perth yesterday.
Smith said the comprehensive result, which has Australia on track for its third Ashes whitewash in four home series, was vindication for the national selectors for making some imaginative selections.
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine was not even keeping for his state side Tasmania when he was named for the first Test at the Gabba, while the recall of 34-year-old Shaun Marsh raised plenty of eyebrows.
Then batsman Peter Handscomb was dropped for the third Test, with underachieving all-rounder Mitchell Marsh getting a surprise recall.
Paine has responded with polished performances behind the stumps and 130 runs at 43.33, while Shaun Marsh produced a crucial century in the second Test in Adelaide and has 224 runs at 74.66. Mitchell Marsh took his chance in the third Test, notching his maiden Test century in making 181.
“I thought they were really good selections,” Smith said.
“Painey has been mentioned as the best keeper in the country for a long period of time and the way he has kept has been exceptional.
“The way he has batted has been exceptional as well, we have had some very valuable runs from him at seven.
“Shaun Marsh as well, he’s come in and done a terrific job.”
Smith credited his bowling attack’s firepower for providing the difference between the sides, with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all capable of bowling considerably quicker than their English counterparts.
He said the success of the trio was reward for extended planning to ensure they were at their prime for the Ashes.
“Here in Australia it certainly makes a difference on the flatter tracks where there isn’t much sideways movement, that extra air speed can make a big difference,” he said.
“We’ve worked really hard to ensure we had these three big quicks were on the park and ready for this series.
“A couple of them skipped the one-day series in India as we knew what was coming up, we were preparing for this series and we wanted the big three on the park to do what they’ve done the last three Test matches.”
Pace bowler Starc battled a bruised heel in Perth, but the captain said he was keen to play in Melbourne.
“I just saw him and he just said ‘I’m playing’,” Smith said.
“Whether he has a choice in the matter I am not sure but he wants to play.”
Australian have named an unchanged side for the Boxing Day Test, starting on December 26 at the MCG. Meanwhile, England captain Joe Root defended his under-performing senior players after his team meekly handed back the Ashes to Australia in Perth yesterday.
Victory by an innings and 41 runs gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, but Root said the English had to be careful not to make hasty decisions based on this series.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen said one of the opening bowlers needed to be dropped, in an apparent reference to Stuart Broad who returned career-worst figures in Perth.
Pietersen’s former English team-mate Ian Bell also suggested it was time for former skipper Alastair Cook to retire, having scored just 83 runs at 13.83 in this series so far.
However Root backed the pair, along with Moeen Ali and Jimmy Anderson, to continue to be important players for England.
“I’d like to think so,” Root said when asked if Cook, Broad and Anderson would still be in the team in 12 months.
“They’ve got huge amounts of experience and they do offer a lot to the group and their performances over a long period of time speak for themselves.
England coach Trevor Bayliss had hinted that pressure may have to got to some of the senior players in the Ashes, but Root dismissed the suggestion.
“They’ve been in situations where things haven’t gone for them before and that’s why they’ve played so many games. No reason they can’t do that again. “It’s important we don’t panic and make hasty decisions after three games.”
Root leapt to the defence of his predecessor as national captain, saying he didn’t think Cook was ready to retire. He’s done it so many times before and he’s a very stubborn guy who likes proving people wrong,” he said.
“The amount of extra work he’s putting in behind the scenes tells me he’s desperate to keep going.”
Root conceded his own form had been down and felt he might have been putting too much pressure on himself to perform.
“Things feel like they just haven’t ran for me out in the middle,” he said.
“I feel pretty good in the way I have prepared and sometimes you just have to keep battling through those tough periods.”
He also refused to say the absence of star allrounder Ben Stokes, unavailable for the Ashes after an alleged fight outside a Bristol pub, had played a big part in England’s demise. “I’m not going to make excuses,” he said. “We knew that he wasn’t going to be on the tour from the start. I was very confident that this group of players could come out here and win.” - Reuters.