Australia Just Too Good

Australia put to bed their 2005 Ashes demons cruising to a comfortable Third Test win at the WACA yesterday to regain the prized urn. Shane Warne spun the ball through Monty Panesar to claim his 699 Test victim and give Australia a comprehensive 209-run victory. Kevin Pietersen remained unbeaten on 60 and has been the hardest man for Australia to dismiss, averaging nearly 80 for the series.

Once a well-flighted dipping, spinning ball from Warne got through English captain Andrew Flintoff Australia quickly ran through the tail. England showed glimpses of good form in each Test match and were in a very strong position in Adelaide, but wilted in each Test to succumb to Australia’s relentless pressure.

After waiting well over a decade and working so hard to regain the Ashes it’s ironic that England managed to hold them for the shortest span in the contest’s history. Australia will look to demoralise the English further by winning the last two matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

Australia today named an unchanged team for the Boxing Day Test, providing all-rounder Andrew Symonds with another chance to cement his spot. England has been comprehensively out-play thus far and will be playing for pride when the contest resumes in Melbourne.