So the Aussies have wrapped the The Ashes from the hands of England. Here are some key moments from the Ashes series so far after Clarke’s men went 3-0 up to regain the urn from England for the first time in three attempts-
So the Aussies have wrapped the The Ashes from the hands of England. Here are some key moments from the Ashes series so far after Clarke’s men went 3-0 up to regain the urn from England for the first time in three attempts-
November 2: England’s bowlers struggle in drawn opening tour match in Perth.
November 8: An 82-page list of England’s dietary demands is leaked to Australian media, who brand the tourists ‘fussy.
November 9: Rain badly disrupts England’s second tour match in Hobart, robbing them of valuable practice.
November 16: Rain also affects England’s final warm-up game, which they win by seven wickets in Sydney.
November 21: England bowler Stuart Broad creates a flash in the crowd and media taunts to take five wickets on day one of the first Test in Brisbane, leaving Australia on 273 for eight.
November 22: Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson takes four wickets as England collapse to 136 all out in reply to Australia’s first innings of 295.
November 23: David Warner scores his first Ashes century as Australia set England a huge victory target of 561.
November 24: Man-of-the-match Johnson takes another five wickets as England crumble to a 381-run defeat within four days. Australian captain Michael Clarke warns tail-ender James Anderson to get ready for a broken arm when facing Johnson, and is later fined.
November 25: England reveal that out-of-form batsman Jonathan Trott has left the tour with a ‘stress related illness’. They deny any direct link to criticism from Warner, who described Trott’s batting as ‘pretty poor and weak’. Warner later expresses regret over the comments.
November 27: Australia coach Darren Lehmann rejects any notion of holding ‘peace talks’ with England’s Andy Flower to calm down on-field sledging. He later calls for more aggression from his team.
November 30: England are again disappointing as they draw a tour match in Alice Springs.
December 6: In the second Test at Adelaide, Clarke and Brad Haddin plunder centuries before Australia declare their first innings at 570 for nine.
December 7: Johnson produces one of the great Ashes bowling spells, snaring seven wickets for 40 runs as England collapse from 111 for three to 172 all out.
December 8: Johnson and England debutant Ben Stokes brush shoulders in a physical confrontation and intense verbal sparring continues as Australia move four wickets from victory.
December 9: Australia mop up England’s tail before lunch on the final day to go 2-0 up and on the verge of regaining the Ashes.
December 13-14: In the third Test in Perth, Steve Smith rescues Australia with a fighting century as the hosts recover from 143 for five to 385 all out. England’s Joe Root is controversially given out for four after a DRS review as the visitors reply.
December 15: In a calamitous day for the tourists, England’s tail again folds to concede a 134-run first innings lead. Bowler Stuart Broad is injured while batting when he is struck on the foot and dismissed lbw by Johnson.
December 16: Australia embarrass England as Shane Watson plunders a quickfire century and George Bailey equals Brian Lara’s Test record by smashing 28 off one over from the out-of-sorts Anderson. Stokes provides resistance with his maiden half-century as England, chasing 504 to win, close on 251 for five in reply, five wickets from losing the Ashes.
December 17: Stokes reaches his century but is caught by Haddin soon after lunch, trigging a flurry of wickets as Australia take an unbeatable 3-0 series lead and win their first Ashes series since 2007.