Ashes 2017-18: Australia win 4-0, England left decimated

Australia won by an innings and 123 runs.

Australia won the series 4-0. (Getty)

Australia finally completed the England misery as they won the final Ashes Test and the series win by an innings and 123 runs as England failed to put up a fight on the final day. 

Joe Root retiring himself out from the game on 58 opened the floodgates Australian bowlers to run through the England lower order. Without their ailed captain, England crumbled after lunch against a withering spell from dynamic Australian quick Pat Cummins, who claimed three quick wickets as Australia completed a dominant series with an innings and 123-run victory. England finished on 180 for 9 with Root retiring on 58 not out.

England started the final day at 93 for 4 still trailing by 210 runs and without their captain at the crease. With Root ailed, struggling all-rounder Moeen came out to bat with Bairstow and the pair shed their attacking instincts to defend gamely against probing Australian bowling. With Root stricken, the prevailing belief was that the embattled tourists would roll over but Bairstow and Moeen offered dogged fight on a pitch showing little wear although offspinner Nathan Lyon relished extracting menacing turn.

There were no chances for almost an hour until Moeen (13) was trapped by his tormentor Lyon on the stroke of the drinks break. It was the seventh time in the series Lyon dismissed Moeen, who finished a horrendous series with a miserable average of 20.
This completes a series for England which they would quickly light to forget and buck up for the ODI series to follow. Australia, on the other hand, showed how to dominate at home in a way which they only know better. A mix of caution and aggression fuelled the players to perform to the best of their ability and bring back the urn. 

Brief Scores 

Australia 7 for 649 dec (Khawaja 171, S Marsh 156, M Marsh 101, Smith 83, Warner 56) beat England 346 (Root 83, Malan 62, Cummins 4-80) and 180 (Cummins 4-39, Lyon 3-54) by an innings and 123 runs

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 08 Jan, 2018

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