The Ashes returns to the Aussies

Australia reclaimed the Ashes as they beat England by 150 runs at the WACA in Perth yesterday. It was an emphatic victory over an English side that won the Ashes for three times on a row. Even they had won this historic bi-lateral test series by a dominant 3-0 margin when Australia went to England three months back.

The shadow of a huge defeat was looming large over the English team on the fourth day when the Baggy Greens declared their third innings at 369/6, thanks to some scintillating display of cricket from both centurions, David Warner ands Shane Watson. The Aussies almost got the match in their pocket having set the English a mammoth total of 504 to chase. Even history was against the English as no team has chased down more than 500 runs to win a test match. So it was quite sure that the visitors will have a hard time ahead in order to save the test. Things worsened when Captain Alistair Cook got out for a golden duck. Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell led the fight back for the visitors. But it did not last long as KP was caught in the deep while trying to hit Nathan Lyon out of the park. In came Ben Stokes. What an innings this young lad played! He played with great determination and played to the merit of the ball. He got his rewards as he became the first Englishman in the series to reach the 3-figure mark. It was mainly because of Ben Stokes that England crossed the 350-run mark. However Stokes’ valiant effort went in vain as England got all out for 353. It was yet another great performance from Mitchell Johnson as he picked up 4 wickets. Nathan Lyon did his job too picking up 3 important wickets. Siddle, Harris and Watson picked up one wicket each.

The Aussies having taken an unassailable lead of 3-0 is looking good to inflict a 5-0 whitewash on England. England, on the other hand, needs to change their game plan and should look forward to begin freshly after three consecutive defeats. They need to pull up their game big time on order to avoid the humiliation of a 5-0 whitewash.

• About the Author

About Argha Ghosh

An ardent follower of sports and die-hard Manchester United fan, Argha's ultimate dream is to watch a Manchester derby from the Stretford End at the Old Trafford.