Reuters
London, August 23: Australia sent captain Michael Clarke into international retirement with an innings and 46-run victory in the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Oval here Sunday.
When impressive paceman Peter Siddle (4/35) had Moeen Ali (35) caught behind, England, following-on, had been dismissed for 286 in their second innings.
Siddle, only playing after Josh Hazlewood was injured, bowled with both pace and control on his way to impressive innings figures.
His return made the experienced seamer’s omission from the previous four Tests all the more surprising.
Even so England, who had already regained the Ashes, won the series 3-2 with Clarke the first Australian in more than a century to be on the losing side in four successive Ashes series in Britain.
Australia’s victory Sunday meant none of the Tests in this Ashes had gone to a fifth day – a testament to the general lack of batting resilience in both sides.
This series equalled the fewest days in a Test series of five or more matches of five or more scheduled days each of 18 that took place when England faced the West Indies in 2000.
It also set a new record, in terms of days played, for an Ashes series of five or more matches of five or more days each.
Clarke paid tribute to his teammates after their victory. He and and Australia opener Chris Rogers, also playing his final test, were given a guard of honour by their team mates as they left the field.
“The way the boys played in this test match was a reward for all the hard work we have put in on this tour,” Clarke said at the presentation ceremony.
“It has been a privilege and an honour to captain the Australian team,” he added.
Brief Scores
Australia 481 beat England 149 (Mitchell Johnson 3/21, Mitchell Marsh 3/30) and (following on) 286 (Alastair Cook 85; Peter Siddle 4/35) by an innings and 46 runs.