England crash to series whitewash

12 April 2012

England's dismal Ashes campaign suffered its final humiliation on Friday when they became the first side for 86 years to suffer a 5-0 whitewash in the contest after slipping to a comprehensive 10-wicket defeat to Australia in the final Test.

Ricky Ponting's men dismissed the tourists for a lowly 147 on the fourth morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground and then raced to their victory target of 46 before lunch.

Resuming on an already perilous 114 for five, a lead of just 12 runs, the tourists' hopes of avoiding the inevitable rested with Kevin Pietersen guiding them to a competitive total. But the Hampshire star fell to the third ball of the day without adding to his overnight 29 and England lost their last five wickets in only 15 overs to be dismissed for a lowly 147.

Pietersen's dismissal, edging behind to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist from a classic Glenn McGrath delivery just outside off-stump, began one of the familiar collapses which have been a trademark of England's tour Down Under.

Australia immediately applied the pressure and denied England a single run for the first four overs of the day, which contributed to the run out of Monty Panesar.

Frustrated by their inability to add to the overnight total, new batsman Chris Read pushed McGrath onto the off-side and set off for a quick single without accounting for the athletic fielding ability of Andrew Symonds.

Read's brief innings was halted four balls after getting off the mark when he edged a wide Brett Lee delivery low to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

Sajid Mahmood fell in the next over, bowled by McGrath to a delivery slanted into him, but last pair Steve Harmison and Jimmy Anderson showed some belated defiance by adding 24.

However, just 15 overs into the fourth day, McGrath finished off the innings when Anderson lofted him straight to Mike Hussey at mid-on before walking off to a standing ovation with Shane Warne.

Chasing a modest victory target, openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden completed the emphatic victory in just 10.5 overs to seal Australia's 11th successive Test triumph.

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