Siddle sends Clarke into sunset with Ashes win

Meanwhile, Cook could not hide his delight at winning the series 3-2 after losing 5-0 in Australia in 2013-14.

Clarke said after the match: “The way the boys played in this test match was a reward for all the hard work we have put in on this tour”.

Australia complete a huge win over England in the Fifth Ashes Test to send Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers out as winners.

He told Sky Sports: “That’s how we should play. There’s lot of pressure and an Ashes series is one of those where you’re either a hero or a zero”, he said. No we’re not, we’re nowhere near the finished article, but we’ve got a very exciting team and I genuinely believe there will be some really good times.

While the English climate produces surfaces that are generally more conducive to swing and seam bowling than many places elsewhere in the world, there was a feeling following Australia’s 405-run win in the second Test on a docile pitch at Lord’s of groundsmen being instructed to prepare wickets that aided horizontal movement.

And what is true of the Ashes is true of Test cricket as a whole, with just three of the last 14 completed Test series won by the away team – Pakistan in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Australia in the West Indies.

England’s final four second-innings wickets were taken with relative ease either side of a three-hour rain delay as the tourists won by an innings and 46 runs. The fewest number in a five-match, five-day Ashes series.

Meanwhile, Clarke said he felt fortunate to have played for his country, scoring 8,643 runs in 115 Tests, including 28 hundreds.

Although not as fast as other members of Australia’s pace attack, Siddle provided a much-needed element of control in the field.

“I’m really proud we were able to show that character and resilience and determination to want to finish on a high. I have enjoyed every minute”. “They have given me as much support as I have asked for”, Clarke said.

England’s vice captain Joe Root was named man of the series with 460 runs.

“This team here is as good a team as people as I’ve played with”, Clarke added. I think that’s the way the game should be played, and, most importantly, I want to see a victor and a loser. He had announced his retirement after Australia’s defeat in the fourth test which helped England retain the Ashes.

“Peter was in our original squad and the chairman Rodney (Marsh) and I thought it was the best opportunity to give him that chance ahead of Patrick Cummins”, he said.

Under its new Australian coach Trevor Bayliss, the series result takes England up to third in the world rankings, just behind Australia with South Africa at the top.