adminSYDNEY. — The body language told the story, but the statistics make the starkest reading after Australia handed old enemy England their heaviest ever Ashes cricket series defeat. As Australia partied long and loud at the Sydney Cricket Ground and England sloped off to face a barrage of criticism, the numbers revealed the sheer scale of the hosts’ superiority.
Their dominance was not only underlined but increased on Sunday, when they swept to a humiliating 281-run victory with two days left to complete only England’s third 5-0 Ashes whitewash in more than 130 years.
England, accused of throwing in the towel and slammed in all quarters by the media, succumbed meekly to the task of chasing an improbable 448 runs to be routed for 166 in just 31.4 overs.
It was statistically England’s worst 5-0 series thrashing by Australia. The tourists lost 100 wickets for 2,030 runs at an average of 20.30, compared to 1920-21 (2,779 runs/98 wickets) and the previous whitewash in 2006-07 (2,530/96).
The series marked a stunning turnaround for Australia just months after losing 3-0 in England, and was a crowning achievement for the meticulous preparation of coach Darren Lehmann along with Michael skipper Clarke.
Clarke gave an insight into the detailed planning for the series, which was executed with clinical effect.
“We spoke at the start of the series and we had set plans for individual batters,” the captain said.
“The moment numbers eight, nine 10, 11 walked in, we knew we were going to hit them as hard as we could with short stuff. We planned that before a ball was bowled in this series.
“But it’s easy to have plans but it takes skill and courage to execute it. I said to the boys at the start of the series that I thought they were the best attack in the world and I think they’ve shown that in five Test matches.” Alastair Cook’s men were ambushed by man-of-the-series Mitchell Johnson in the first Brisbane Test to roll over by 381 runs, and it was downhill from there: Adelaide (218 runs), Perth (150 runs), Melbourne (eight wickets) and finally Sydney, probably the worst defeat of all.
Lethal left-armer Johnson edged veteran wicketkeeper — batsman Brad Haddin for man-of-the-series honours with 37 wickets, the best by an Australian bowler in a five-Test series in Australia. Only three Australian bowlers have taken 40 wickets or more in an Ashes series — Terry Alderman (twice), Rodney Hogg and Shane Warne. — AFP.
Online Reporter