ashes

Australia has won back the Ashes with a decisive victory in Perth, taking the series three-nil.

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All-rounder Andrew Symonds has been rushed into the Australian squad following the shock retirement of Damien Martyn today.

Selectors brought Symonds and another all round, spinner Andrew Voges into the squad after fellow Queenslander, Shane Watson, was ruled out with a nagging hamstring injury.

Here is Martyn's statement:

"I would like to advise of my retirement from cricket, effective from today. I do so with a deep awareness of the opportunities that the game and Cricket Australia have provided for me.

"However, I'm also aware of the tremendous challenges facing Australian cricket including this current Ashes series. Such challenges require people who are more than 100 per cent committed, dedicated, disciplined and passionate about the game, what it seeks to achieve and how those involved in the game can best serve cricket, sport and the wider community.

The Sun has it's say

England wallowed in its shock loss to Australia, the local media accusing their team of snatching defeat from the jaws of a morale winning victory.

"The dismal thing for England fans is the manner of defeat. The batsmen, as Lawrence Booth wrote here, had fear in their eyes," said Guardian commentator Tim De Lisle.

Michael Clark played himself back into the Test team with a solid 123 as Australia ground out 513.

The match is almost certain to end a draw, with England 1/59 and only one day to go.

The pitch continues to offer near perfect batting conditions, although England was getting some reverse swing going and Warne some spin.

The test ends tomorrow.

Score

Three centuries short of all time record

Ricky Ponting has broken Steve Waugh's record for most Test centuries by an Australian, scoring an undefeated 101 as Australia chases England's 551 first innings total.

Australia are 3/185 at tea with Michael Hussey on 49. At this stage Australia's strategy seems to be to bat as long as possible and force a draw.

Ponting is three short of the 35 centuries scored by Sachin Tendukar, who holds the all time record.

Australia celebratesEngland lost its final five wickets for 100 runs, with medium pacer Stuart Clark, cleaning up the tail this morning, as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five game Ashes series.
Australia won by 277 runs and go to Adelaide on a high, after a high class performance which saw them out play England across the field.
Australia immediately took the new ball this morning and Lee scored early getting Pietersen on the fourth ball of the day, with a catch from Martyn at mid on. Seamer, Stuart Clark, continued his accurate spell, picking up four wickets in the innings and seven for the match.
Ponting and McGrath picked up the man of the match awards.
The next Test begins in Adelaide on Friday.

England's hopes of holding out for a draw faded this morning as Australia - with a new ball - picked up three quick wickets, leaving England tinkering on defeat at 8/346. Pietersen failed to get his century, out for 92, off Lee.
This came after England had their best day of the Test yesterday to resist Australia on a crumbling pitch, ending the day at 5/293.

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Ponting reminds England who is in charge

Ricky Ponting has continued to anchor what is looking like a massive Australian score, taking Australia to a solid 4/427 at the end of the first session on the second day of play of the Brisbane Test.
Hussey fell at 86, again to Flintoff, the only bowler who has troubled the Australians. Ponting is unbeaten on 177 and Michael Clark is on 10.

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