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Stokes had not even bowled during Australia’s first innings when Stuart Broad’s eight-wicket haul blew Australia away for 60 on day one of this fourth Test.

Mitchell Starc was out for 11, making it 119-9, falling in Broad’s wicket maiden.

England won the third and fourth Tests in less than five days, the latter without the services of injured bowler James Anderson, and Cook said he was pleased to see his players step up to the mark in the absence of England’s record wicket-taker.

England are on the verge of winning The Ashes after Ben Stokes’ second Test five-wicket haul left the hosts just needing just four more wickets for victory after the second day at Trent Bridge.

Ben Stokes’s five-wicket haul left England on the verge of an Ashes-clinching win after the second day of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge on Friday (August 7).

At lunch, Australia were 14 without loss in their second innings – still 317 runs behind – as England eyed a win that would put them 3-1 up in the five-match series and see them regain the Ashes.

And Stokes is setting his sights on finishing matters with minimal fuss.

England lead the five-match series 2-1 and victory at Trent Bridge would see them regain the Ashes after they were whitewashed 5-0 in Australia in 2013/14.

Mitchell Starc struggled for control in the first three tests before claiming six wickets at Trent Bridge and with Josh Hazlewood proving steady but none too penetrating the Australian attack was toothless.

(Picture: Reuters)Victory tasted so sweet for Cook’s men!

Clarke retired from one-day cricket after leading his country to World Cup glory earlier this year but declared his intention to continue in the longer format despite long-standing back problems.

Chris Rogers was eight not out and David Warner one not out.

The 34-year-old made the decision after discussions with his pregnant wife Kyly on Friday night, with Australia just three wickets away from handing England an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.

In Beijing, about 30 Chinese relatives of Flight 370 passengers marched to the Malaysian Embassy hoping to talk to an official about why Malaysia confirmed the part came from the plane when French investigators had not.

England will take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with one more match to be played at the Oval from August 20.