Australia crushed England by an innings and 80 runs in the fourth Test yesterday to level the Ashes series at 1-1 with one match to play.
The touring side picked up the last two England wickets in 20 minutes after lunch on the third day, Mitchell Johnson bowling Graham Onions to dismiss the hosts for 263 in their second innings.
Graeme Swann, who made 62, had shared an entertaining century partnership with Stuart Broad in the morning session to frustrate Australia and ensure that England avoided a record margin of defeat.
PHOTO: REUTERS
England resumed on 82 for five following their collapse on Saturday and nightwatchman James Anderson struck the second ball of the day for four but he edged the next one from Ben Hilfenhaus to Ricky Ponting at second slip.
Matt Prior played two sumptuous square drives for four but he fell for 22, nibbling at a Hilfenhaus outswinger and edging the ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who took a brilliant diving catch.
Broad was dropped by Peter Siddle on 18, a very difficult chance at mid-off, and he struck several crisp boundaries including four in one over from Stuart Clark.
He reached his half-century, made from only 42 balls, with a crashing straight drive for four off Siddle. Swann also went on the attack, with the pair adding 49 runs in three overs from Clark and Siddle.
Broad was dropped again on 53 by Johnson running back at long-off and Swann’s quick single brought up the 100 partnership off 73 balls.
Broad survived yet again when Simon Katich failed to grasp another tough catch on the boundary but his luck finally ran out on 61 when he pulled Siddle and Shane Watson held the chance at deep square leg.
Swann continued to play his shots, reaching his half-century with a hook for six off Siddle and England took lunch on 245 for eight.
Swann was first to go after the interval, driving at a wide ball from Johnson to give Haddin an easy catch and Johnson clean bowled Onions for a duck to complete impressive figures of five for 69.
England, without injured stars Andrew Flintoff — the inspiration behind their 115-run second Test win at Lord’s — and Kevin Pietersen, were on the backfoot after collapsing to 102 all out on Friday’s first day.
England slumped for the second time Saturday, with top-order batsmen Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood managing just 16 runs between them.
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