Final day of Ashes humiliation

England is on course to achieve one of its greatest triumphs in Australia by inflicting an unprecedented humiliation.

Never before in almost 134 years of Test cricket has Australia lost three Tests in a series by an innings.

Only a prolonged repeat of yesterday evening’s monsoonal downpour can prevent England from achieving another emphatic victory in the fifth and final Test at the SCG to take the series 3-1.

Australia will resume today on 7-213, still needing 151 simply to make England bat again.

It will be England’s first series success in this country for 24 years.

Shane Watson, who was run-out in a dreadful mix-up with Phil Hughes for 38, conceded the depth of Australia’s despair.

“There’s no doubt with the performances we have shown over the last little while that we have to turn it around and it does come down to the players alone to turn it around,” Watson said.

Full story: The Australian

 

Australia poised to beat England in Perth

The WACA, Perth

England face a monumental task to avoid defeat in the third Ashes Test in Perth after slumping to 81-5 in pursuit of an improbable victory target of 391.

A Mike Hussey century and 95 from Shane Watson lifted Australia to 309 all out in their second innings on day three.

Steve Smith added a handy 36 and Chris Tremlett took a five-wicket haul.

Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris both struck twice as England lost their top five batsmen cheaply, leaving Australia on the brink of squaring the series.

Full story: BBC Sport

Hussey’s century makes it tough for England

 

Mike Hussey is one of the few Australian batsmen to get amongst the runs.

Another stirring chapter in Mike Hussey‘s series of a lifetime means England must chase 391 runs to retain the Ashes in the third Test at the WACA ground.

 

Australia were bowled out for 309 shortly after tea, reliant largely on the contributions of Hussey (116) and opener Shane Watson (95).

It seems bizarre that many sound judges had Hussey dropped before the series began, for he has now tallied 517 runs at 103.4 and is yet to be dismissed without passing 50.

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Australia would be utterly lost without him.

Full story: Sydney Morning Herald

 

Aussies eager for lengthy bat

 

Mike Hussey is one of the few Australian batsmen to get amongst the runs.

Refreshed pace ace Mitchell Johnson says Australia will try to bat all Saturday in a bid to build a match-winning lead against England in the third Test at the WACA Ground.

 

Australia will resume their second innings on 3-119, an overall lead of 200, with Shane Watson on 61 and Mike Hussey on 24.

With three days remaining, Johnson said the Australians had time on their hands and would look to bat as long as possible in order to set England a tricky run chase.

“Well only two days have gone by and it’s a bit of a time thing as well,” Johnson said.

Full story: The Age

 

Super Mitch snares six

Australia’s leadership crisis has deepened further, with Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke both dismissed cheaply for the second time in the match.

The Australian captain gloved a ball down the leg side to England wicketkeeper Matt Prior that was not given out, but the decision was reversed when the tourists called for a video review.

Clarke looked the goods as he raced to 20 off 17 balls, but then took an inside edge onto his stumps. It followed the four runs he made in Australia’s first innings.

Australia is now 3-64 and has a lead of 146 runs, with Shane Watson (31 not out) and Mike Hussey (0 not out) at the crease.

The Aussies began their innings after tea with a lead of 81 runs after Mitchell Johnson’s remarkable haul of 6-38 helped dismiss England for 187.

Johnson’s stunning return, just a fortnight after being dropped for the second test, came a day after he top scored for Australia with a fighting 62 and could yet be the turning point in the series.

A jubilant Brad Haddin ran towards the Barmy Army to celebrate the wicket of Graeme Swann as Australia kept its foot on England’s throat.

Full story: Herald Sun