‘Ashes-thrashes’ England whitewashed

Australia captain Michael Clarke labels historic series win ‘very special’.

SYDNEY:

Australia completed a 5-0 Ashes whitewash against England on Sunday as the hapless tourists crumbled to a humiliating 281-run defeat in the fifth Test in Sydney.

Demoralised England capitulated after tea against the home side’s formidable pace attack, losing seven wickets in 52 minutes on their way to being bundled out for 166 in 31.4 overs — getting nowhere near the 448 victory target.

The crushing defeat is expected to have major ramifications for English cricket just months after they beat Australia 3-0 in England.

Pace man Ryan Harris finished with five for 25 to finish man-of-the-match, while man-of-the-series and fellow fast bowler Mitchell Johnson  had figures of three for 40.

It was the third time Australia had achieved a 5-0 series clean sweep over England, after 1920-21 and 2006-07. The Australians have now climbed to third in the ICC rankings above England and Pakistan.



“It’s extremely special for a number of reasons,” said Australia captain Michael Clarke.

“The roller-coaster ride, the ups and downs of 2013, it’s been a lot of work to get us where we are today.”

England’s hopes vanished with the cheap dismissals of skipper Alastair Cook (7), Ian Bell (16) and Kevin Pietersen (6) in the middle session as England limped on 87 for three.

Michael Carberry (43) fell just two balls after tea and three balls later Gary Ballance was out by Johnson for seven.

Jonny Bairstow went for a duck and debutant leg-spinner Scott Borthwick was magnificently caught by Clarke off Lyon for four. Ben Stokes punished Lyon for 20 off one over before he was bowled by Harris for 32 off 16 balls.

Stuart Broad also went down swinging before being bowled by Harris. Boyd Rankin was last man out, caught overhead by Clarke at second slip to complete the victory.

Cook hopes to rebuild after Ashes nightmare

England captain Alastair Cook was a disappointed man after succumbing to the whitewash.

“I think today [Sunday] was a culmination of being under the cosh for four and a half games,” said Cook.

“Credit to Australia, I can’t even count on how many sessions we won in the series. That’s a pretty daunting stat to take but a very realistic statistic.”

He added that his players need to improve their game on an individual level.

“When you strip everything down, every single player now has to go back and have a look at themselves, have a look at their techniques. Have a look at the way they’ve bowled and start rebuilding again. And that hunger has to come from within.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2014.

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