Australia clinch the Ashes series, 5-0
- January 5th, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
Australia have competed a 5-0 whitewash in the Ashes cricket series, with another resounding win, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
VICTORY DAY
The game ended early, on just the third of five days, with the captain Michael Clarke taking a catch from Boyd Rankin, off the bowling of Ryan (“Rhino”) Harris, (who became Player of the Match, with eight wickets, five-for-25 in the final innings).
The capacity crowd at the ground, decked out in pink for the charity “Pink Day”, were already standing in anticipation of the moment when the series would come to its emphatic end.
Final scores: England All Out 166 (31.4) and155 (58.5); Australia All Out 276 (61.3) and 326 (76.0).
FAVOURITES BEATEN
England had started the series as qualified favourites, having held the Ashes 3-0 at home in the Summer, with especially an uncontestable victory at Lords; modified only by one very narrow win, by two runs, and some luck with the two draws.
Most commentary on the sudden reverse in form, and fortunes, focuses on the shock of the extreme pace attack put up by Australia, starting with the First Test at the Gabba. See EUAustralia Online, Australia-England Cricket War, 24.4.13). The return of Mitchell Johnson to the Australian team was the heart of it; he finished Man of the Series.
Following another win, in Adelaide, the Australians clinched the series with their victory in the Third test at Perth; see EUAustralia Online, Australia regains the Ashes, 18.12.13.
The pattern intensified with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, which brought a record crowd for the holiday at the MCG, well over 90000.
Scores for that Test:
Australia 2/231 (51.5) & 204 (82.2)
England 179 (61.0) & 255 (100.0)
CAPTAINS SPEAK
In end-of series comments, Michael Clarke said his team had worked hard to get through tough times and gain winning form.
“We grabbed hold of that momentum and ran with it as long as we possibly could, and we hope that will go on for some time yet”, he said.
“We are ranked fifth in the world [now moved to third – ed.] and we know what we have got to do.”
The England Captain , Alastair Cook, thanked their supporters, many of whom had travelled to Australia in big groups:
“We’re sorry we let you down but we do appreciate your support”, he said.
He had already attributed the failure of 2013-14 in Australia to weakening confidence in the team.
“It hurts”, he said.
“At the end of the day we weren’t good enough”.
PINK DAY
Pink Day is organised by the McGrath Foundation, initiated by Jane McGrath, late wife of the fast bowler Glenn McGrath, during her eleven year battle with breast cancer. She died in 2008. The Foundation aims to provide a breast nurse for every sufferer of the disease, and to date has 25000 Australian families signed up as supporters.
Reference
Cricket Australia, Sydney. http://www.cricket.com.au/, (3.1.14).
The McGrath Foundation, Pink Test, Sydney. http://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/pinktest/, (3.1.14).
Pictures McGrath Foundation, SCG