Michael Clarke thanks fans, shares rare childhood photograph

It was a charm, however, completely lacking from the 2015 Ashes, which ended with England winning the five-match series 3-2 despite Australia’s innings and 46-run win in the concluding Test at The Oval on Sunday.

It was a far more resolute first-innings batting display than in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge where Australia collapsed to 60 all out, with Stuart Broad taking 8/15, to set up England’s Ashes-clinching innings and 78-run victory.

With captain Michael Clarke and opener Chris Rogers retiring, there are at least two batting spots up for grabs, while the manifest failure of the Australian middle order means there are more opportunities for batsmen who perform.

“I am proud of the way we played here, showing grit and determination and playing cricket the Australian way”, said Clarke.

Outgoing Australia captain Michael Clarke claimed pitches prepared specifically to help England’s bowlers had made the Ashes an unfair contest between bat and ball.

“It would have been nice to get the century but it wasn’t to be”, Cook said.

They were traits sorely missed by Australia following the shock retirement of Ryan Harris on the eve of the series.

“This game sums up the series”, Clarke told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special. So there’s quality sides and at home it’s a lot easier to play than away. If Australia played England in Australia this winter, Australia would probably win.

England celebrated victory at Trent Bridge – which gave them an unassailable 3-1 series lead – with a 10-hour changing-room drinking session, but Root insisted: The guys prepared very well for this Test.

But there was a hollower ring to celebrations for Alastair Cook’s team, after Moeen Ali was last out to Peter Siddle to confirm them significantly second-best here.

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

“But this is not about me – what I want people to see is the fight inside this changeroom and how much they wanted to play really good cricket”.

“I just think wickets with a bit in it for everyone – seam, runs, and spin at the end – for the fans, long term, that is what they are looking for”. 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. At certain moments we’ve had outstanding performances by members of our side. I remember when I was facing the challenge of winning in India and Sri Lanka, having lost a few series there, and this is now similar. “I’m not saying the wickets were fantastic – don’t get me wrong – but we’ve seen a victor and a loser over four days”, Clarke said.

Watson showed the value of his years of experience in Test cricket by getting out lbw twice and unsuccessfully reviewing both decisions.