The tourists contrived to lose five wickets for 13 runs in the final session of the day handing England a 3-0 series victory with a match to play.
Tim Bresnan got the breakthrough which sparked a collapse of truly England-in-the-Nineties proportions. The Yorkshireman produced a darting jaffer which found the edge of dangerman David Warner’s bat as he closed in on his ton.
England thought they’d got Steve Smith caught behind, but Tony Hill, showing a pick up in form was unmoved. Cook reviewed the decision but replays showed the only thing the ball hit was Smith’s sweater.
Stuart Broad notched a much-deserved wicket soon after, bowling Michael Clarke with the first ball after the drinks break. The ball angled in and then held its line, clattering into the top of off to send the Aussie captain traipsing back to the hutch.
Smith joined the parade of Aussie batsman conga lining back to the pavilion minutes later pulling one from Broad unluckily onto his stumps.
It brought to the crease the potentially destructive pairing of Shane Watson and Brad Haddin, but before they had a chance to build anything of note Watson was waddling back to the dressing room for two.
The Aussie seamer has struggled in this series, getting out lbw stepping across his stumps, and Bresnan trapped Watto again.
The leggish delivery was worth a review and Watto is prone to take them, but Hawk Eye suggested that the ball was going on to clip leg, with the decision umpire’s call.
The Baggy Greens’ wicketkeeper added his weight to the collapse falling lbw to the now rampant Broad, following yet another umpire’s call review.
Harris was next to fall; lbw to that man Stuart Broad. No DRS needed for this one with the Aussie paceman wrapped on the ankles bang in front.
Broad claimed his five-for, and 10th wicket in two innings, shortly after sending Nathan Lyon’s leg stump cartwheeling.
Cook asked for the extra half hour, and was told he could only bowl spin due to the light.
Root came into the attack to hold up one end whilst he and Swann searched for the final wicket.
Matt Prior missed an easy run-out after Bairstow cannoned one in from mid-wicket off Root, before a blast of early evening sunshine allowed Cook to bring his pace men back into the attack.
It was fitting that Broad notched the final wicket of the day, such was his performance in the match. Peter Siddle’s battling 23 shouldn’t be glossed over, though it was he who fell last lobbing one to Anderson who took a comfortable catch.
Australia had looked favourites in the match and it took a collapse of biblical proportions to bring about an England victory, though credit should go to Broad who put in an immense performance with England’s main hitman Anderson misfiring.
Even the most ardent of England fans would agree that three-nil scoreline in the series doesn’t do justice to the Australians’ performance, though England’s XI won’t be thinking about that as they crack open the beers this evening.
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