Australia has reclaimed the Ashes after England held the precious urn for a mere 15 months - the shortest period in Ashes history.

Shane Warne claimed the wicket of Monty Panesar in the first over after lunch to complete as comprehensive series victory for Australia.

Australia went to lunch one wicket away from winning the third Test at the WACA Ground and regaining the Ashes.

England's Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff took up the attack this morning but Australia took four wickets in 33 balls to all but seal the result.
The brilliance of Warne and Ricky Ponting turned the day on its after England's bright start.

Warne bowled Flintoff for 51 to douse any dreams England had of pulling off Test cricket's most audacious run-chase, and then a sharp piece of Ponting fielding sent a dagger through the tourists' aims of saving the match.

The Australian captain ran out Geraint Jones when he flicked the ball on to the stumps after the England wicketkeeper carelessly failed to put his foot behind the batting crease after missing an attempted sweep shot.

Jones' duck was his fourth in as many innings this tour and his second of the match.

Warne and Stuart Clark then removed tailenders Sajid Mahmood and Steve Harmison, but No.11 Monty Panesar at least delayed Australia's celebrations by holding on over the last two overs of the session.
Pietersen was 59 not out.

Warne's 3-114 gave him 698 career wickets, which means he won't get a chance to take his 700th career wicket until the fourth Test in his home town of Melbourne, by which stage Australia will have the Ashes in its keeping.

Just as Glenn McGrath did late on day four, when he took two wickets in three balls to dash any realistic hopes England had of saving the match, Australia's key players rose when they needed to.

Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen had added 71 runs today as England chased 557.

But Warne fired a leg break into the block hole and Flintoff was bowled comprehensively after playing all over the delivery.

Two overs later Ponting was too alert for Jones and flicked down the stumps from his position at bat pad while Jones was still on one knee after trying to sweep Warne.

Australia went from going on the defensive early in the session to chasing victory before lunch, when Mahmood and Harmison were both trapped in front.

12th mans 'boned' is in stores now, check it out

Here's hoping they'll make it a clean sweep. Rub salt in the wound.

Well played Aussies.. however, you should understand that 99.9% of the British population couldn't give a rat's arse about cricket.

Umm... judging by the way you celebrated last year's win... you do give a rats arse...

now american football, that's a boring sport. where '5 minutes left' can mean half an hour.

why don't americans play cricket? why do they have to be different and not play sports that a lot of other countries play? it would bring another team into the cricketing world. not only that, but it would also bring in people from other countries and more money into america. especially if they host a world cup.

i know it's off topic, maybe i should make a thread about it?

Boring "sport"

It's not a boring sport.

Try facing a cricket ball on a cold morning without pads and a helmet.


Or better, try fielding at short cover on a cold morning.

i know what ur talkin about bro... thats truly the pinnacle of pain...ouch !!!
btw iam not a big fan of the Aussie cricket team....they are terrible sportsmen and are generally hated by all other international teams because of their arrogant and abusive attitude...don't know why that is....Australians in general appear to be very cool people.

i know what ur talkin about bro... thats truly the pinnacle of pain...ouch !!!
btw iam not a big fan of the Aussie cricket team....they are terrible sportsmen and are generally hated by all other international teams because of their arrogant and abusive attitude...don't know why that is....Australians in general appear to be very cool people.

Umm... judging by the way you celebrated last year's win... you do give a rats arse...

Haha, very true.

Ha ha ha indeed.. how very funny you Canadians and Australians are! Truly the Cannon and Ball of world comedy...

Actually no it's not true.. see above (the celebrations came from the small minority of people who care about/watch cricket and the rest were those who were absolutely surprised at an England team winning anything in sport.)

Of course it's always an absolute pleasure to beat Australia at anything. It doesn't happen very often, of course, but always a pleasure.

It's a shame Warne's retiring, the man is a legend and a good bloke off the pitch too.

^Meaning he's not an arrogant a#@!+*#% off the pitch, unlike many pros.

No, I'm not a big cricket fan, I find it protracted and boring. Two close (British) friends of mine have met Warne (and a lot of other players) quite a few times and they like him (even if he is a rude Aussie.. but then, aren't you all?)