England win Ashes 3-2 despite fifth Test defeat at Oval
Retiring Clarke bows out with victory but having lost Ashes...
England celebrated a 3-2 Ashes-winning
scoreline after Australia completed an innings and 46-run victory on a
rain-interrupted day four of the fifth and final Investec Test at the
Oval.
Alastair Cook's side - who regained the urn in spectacular style at
Trent Bridge 15 days ago - missed out on becoming the first England side
to win a home Ashes series 4-1 by a distance.
But
Cook is still only the third England captain, after WG Grace and
Michael Brearley, to win two Ashes series on home turf - an achievement
all the more remarkable given Australia began what became a fluctuating
series as heavy favourites.
This is the first time England have beaten
Australia 3-2 in a home series, having previously only won by that
margin in Australia in 1884/85, 1894/95 and 1903/04.
Oddly,
English celebrations could only resume in earnest, though, once their
fifth Test defeat was confirmed; that moment came at 3.26pm when Moeen
Ali edged Peter Siddle behind as England were bowled out for 286.
So Australia's skipper Michael Clarke bowed out
of international cricket after 115 Tests with a victory but having
never been part of an Ashes-winning side on English soil in four
attempts. He was given a guard of honour by his own team as he left the
field as captain for the last time.
England's
dismal collapse to 107-8 in the final session on day two meant
Australia's second victory of the series was a case of when, not if -
despite the threat of rain.
Following on, England began the fourth day on 203-6, still 129 runs adrift.
Clarke
received a standing ovation as he led Australia out ahead, receiving a
handshake from Chris Rogers – also playing his final Test before
retirement.
Night-watchman Mark Wood almost gifted his
wicket to Australia's cause in the third over of the day, setting off
for an unlikely run and having to dive back into his ground – replays
showing a direct hit from Steve Smith would have sent him back.
There
was no such reprieve in Peter Siddle's next over when Wood was hit in
front – the decision going in Australia's favour on review.
Jos Buttler, 33 not out, improved his highest score of the series to 42 with the help of a couple of sweet straight drives.
But with the skies ever darkening he drove far too loosely at Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc grabbed a low chance at mid-off.
Moeen Ali continued to play his shots even after the first spots of
rain began to fall 10 overs into the day – spinner Nathan Lyon beating
England's number nine with a beauty.
Inevitably,
the teams went off for rain at 12.16pm to impressive cheers from the
home fans, no doubt hoping the bad weather would deny Australia a 3-2
series scoreline.
When play did resume under bright skies at 3pm,
it took Australia just six minutes to inch closer to victory – Siddle
bowling Stuart Broad off a feather of an inside edge.
England's
defeat came 20 minutes later when the deserving Siddle (4-35) collected
the fourth wicket of the innings to complete an impressive return to
the Test team.
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3:11 AM
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