England thrashed as Australia earn consolation win in final Ashes Test

He said that “Michael has been a mainstay in the Australia team during a very successful period in its history”.

Jonny Bairstow made 26 but he and Ben Stokes (nought) fell in the same over from spinner Nathan Lyon to leave Australia on course to win inside three days.

Clarke did not specifically allege the Ashes series pitches had been prepared based on instructions from the England and Wales Cricket Board, arguing he was unsure if Cricket Australia sought to do the same in Australia, but he strongly alluded to it.

Peter Siddle is back in a big way.

When impressive paceman Peter Siddle had Moeen Ali (35) caught behind, England, following-on, had been dismissed for 286 in their second innings.

The 24-year-old was also England’s player of the series, an award judged by Australia coach Darren Lehmann.

Clarke enforced the follow-on for the first time in his Test career, emboldened by a first-innings lead of 332 runs.

“England deserve a lot of credit for the way they played and they thoroughly deserve to win the series but it has been a privilege and an honour to captain the Australian team”.

“I think Test cricket is a five-day battle”.

“It’s going to be a tough ask and we may well need some help with the weather”.

“It’s been an unbelievable journey and that’s part of playing for Australia. Us two old boys, our time’s up”.

“I don’t usually get emotional, but it’s a sad moment”.

Even in England, the rain has to stop eventually.

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 hosts resumed at 8/258. Stuart Broad of England was declared Player of the match.

Michael Clarke’s final Test victory has been delayed. Moeen Ali is still batting at the crease as Australia are wickets adrift of victory.

“People have tickets for today to watch a whole day’s play and tomorrow, and the same [occurred] for Edgbaston and Nottingham”.

At The Oval, several England batsmen contributed to their own dismissal with poor strokes as the recalled pair of Siddle and Mitchell Marsh both took wickets in a meagre total of 149 all out.

Buttler scooped a drive high on the bat straight to Mitchell Starc at mid-off.

Hello and Welcome to the the live updates of day four.

Wood was trapped plumb in front, but a review was required to send him on his way, with umpire Kumar Dharmasena perhaps believing the batsman had got an inside edge as he turned down Australia’s confident appeals.

Earlier, Mathews hit a glorious 102 to lift his team to a strong position before India turned the tables after a barren morning session.