Reasons of change

[snoop1130]

Australia reclaim Ashes with WACA demolition

By Ian Ransom

 

 

PERTH (Reuters) - Australia thrashed England by an innings and 41 runs in the third test in Perth on Monday to reclaim the Ashes with two matches to spare and condemn Joe Root's team to a period of gloomy introspection.

 

Seamer Josh Hazlewood finished with a five-wicket haul as England were bowled out for 218 before tea on a rain-hit final day at the WACA.

 

Four years after Alastair Cook's side meekly surrendered the Ashes at the same venue, Root's England were condemned to hand back the urn with the same humiliating 3-0 scoreline.

 

Australia quick Pat Cummins wrapped up the match, dismissing Chris Woakes (22) behind the wicket, triggering a round of bear-hugs with whooping team mates in the middle.

 

His captain Steve Smith was named Man-of-the-Match for a second time in the series, his brilliant 239 having left England with an improbable second innings mountain to climb.

 

"It's been an amazing couple of weeks, I've really enjoyed every moment of it," the beaming skipper told reporters.

 

"To know everything has worked out and we’ve been able to get that urn back, all the emotions came out at once."

 

Smith's dominant series has put his counterpart in the shade, with Root struggling with the bat and let down badly by his senior players across the three defeats at the WACA, Adelaide Oval and in Brisbane.

 

"It's bitterly disappointing," Root told reporters.

 

"One of the most frustrating things is we haven't been blown away.

 

"In all three games there have been period where we’ve matched and outplayed Australia.

 

"I’m sure the next day or so will be pretty tough but we’ve got a bit of time to get ready for Melbourne ... and show the character of the group we have."

 

Heavy overnight showers leaked rainwater onto the pitch in an embarrassment for the WACA ground staff and rain squalls further delayed the resumption of play.

 

But even with some 28 overs and some three hours lost to the weather, it was far from enough to save the tourists, who lost their last six wickets for 85 runs.

 

They resumed in peril on 132 for four, still 127 runs short of making Australia bat again, on a pitch with cracks snaking at both ends of the wicket.

 

Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow, who combined for a gallant 237-run partnership in the first innings, were tasked with the rescue mission but the England wicketkeeper was bowled for 14 on the first delivery he faced.

 

It was a delivery from Hazlewood that skidded low off a crack and clattered into off-stump, in a portent of a miserable afternoon for the tourists.

 

Incoming batsman Moeen Ali was very nearly out four balls later, when he edged the same bowler just short of Smith in the slips.

 

He was unable to capitalise on his reprieve, falling leg before for 11, with fellow off-spinner Nathan Lyon snaring his wicket for the fifth time in the series.

 

Malan backed up his first innings hundred with a half-century when he pulled Cummins to the fence.

 

But he was caught behind for 54 trying to pull Hazlewood after being well worked over by the tall seamer.

 

England's tail had proved hopelessly brittle against Australia's bouncers throughout the series, and it duly fell over, with Hazlewood claiming his fifth victim when Craig Overton was caught in the gully for 12.

 

Cummins wrapped up the match by having Stuart Broad (zero) and Woakes nick behind, prompting celebrations in the modest day five crowd of 8,082.

 

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-18

[damian]

2 hours ago, car720 said:

Never ceases to amaze me.

Every other country's news is about love or hate, war or peace but Australia has the cricket.  But never say they are irrelevant. 

Actually this is about hate and war. 

[F4UCorsair]

The Captain leading by example with the bat,  great decision making, and leadership.....again!

 

His average is now second to Bradman, a distant second admittedly, but Bradman played in a different era when so much was different.

[F4UCorsair]

5 hours ago, damian said:

Actually this is about hate and war. 

Certainly war, not so much hate.  We're essentially the same people.

 

After all, we're a nation descended from convicts, English criminals sent to populate a colony, and they did a good job.

Edited December 18, 2017 by F4UCorsair

[Sir Swagman]

Does anyone know how to get the cricket on the tv? Without paying into the cricket net (or whatever it is called) subscription plan?

[F4UCorsair]

1 hour ago, Sir Swagman said:

Does anyone know how to get the cricket on the tv? Without paying into the cricket net (or whatever it is called) subscription plan?

 

 

Try this link     https://www.9now.com.au/live/channel-9

 

I just signed up to see if it could be done, and am watching Ch 9 live, so perhaps you will be able to do so??  There may be an 'out of country' restriction, not sure.

Edited December 18, 2017 by F4UCorsair

[Sir Swagman]

6 hours ago, F4UCorsair said:

 

 

Try this link     https://www.9now.com.au/live/channel-9

 

I just signed up to see if it could be done, and am watching Ch 9 live, so perhaps you will be able to do so??  There may be an 'out of country' restriction, not sure.

There is 

 

[champers]

Please move this thread to the Obituaries column.

[F4UCorsair]

50 minutes ago, champers said:

Please move this thread to the Obituaries column.

 

The obituary was written in 1882, five years after the first match was played at Rupertswood, Sunbury, Victoria in 1877.

 

After the 1882 win by Australia in England, 

 

The obituary stated that........... English cricket had died, and "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia

[rosst]

Pleased the urn is back but on my way home for Christmas and was hoping that the Boxing day test would still be a live series. 

[Rawairat]

Thanks for the link, it requires a VPN in Aus. Live NetTV has the UK feed

[F4UCorsair]

On 12/19/2017 at 8:44 AM, Sir Swagman said:

Does anyone know how to get the cricket on the tv? Without paying into the cricket net (or whatever it is called) subscription plan?

 

On 12/19/2017 at 9:56 AM, F4UCorsair said:

 

 

Try this link     https://www.9now.com.au/live/channel-9

 

I just signed up to see if it could be done, and am watching Ch 9 live, so perhaps you will be able to do so??  There may be an 'out of country' restriction, not sure.

 

18 hours ago, Sir Swagman said:

There is 

 

 

Would registering an email address with the suffix "au" be enough, e.g.,    [email protected] ?    My knowledge of these things is very poor, so just guessing.

[samran]

Few things more calming than having the cricket on the telly in the background while you are pottering about at home on a hot day. Miss the dolcet tones of Ritchie Bernaud.