Steve Smith won his first Ashes as captain as Australia reclaimed the urn by winning the third Test at Perth’s WACA Ground by an innings and 41 runs on Monday.
Needing 259 runs to make Australia bat again on a day where rain and a water damaged pitch delayed the start, England were bowled out for 218 in their second innings. Josh Hazlewood claimed 5/48 for Australia, as the hosts took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
With wickets quick and easy on Day five, Australia’s victory was inevitable. The moment finally arrived when Chris Woakes knicked one off Pat Cummins straight to Tim Paine behind the stumps.
Here’s the moment:
The #Ashes are back where they belong! #ohwhatafeeling @Toyota_Aus pic.twitter.com/qJzxltBYJX
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 18, 2017
Here’s how the cricket community reacted to Australia comprehensive win.
Australian cricketers celebrated
@tdpaine36 well done Kid'o what a fantastic achievement mate. Set backs, disappointments, injuries, perseverance & determination. Enjoy every ----ing minute of this. #Asheswinner pic.twitter.com/COx0TAN9jB
— Damien Wright (@wrightmove6) December 18, 2017
Congrats Australia!! That’s why we are “obsessed” with pace - 3 blokes consistently bowling 145kph is the difference between the teams. When the ball isn’t swinging or seaming, the extra pace can still get good players out!!
— Daniel Christian (@danchristian54) December 18, 2017
Aussies🏏 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 brilliant performance #ashes17 🍻🍻
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 18, 2017
Australia you f#%*ing beauty!!! 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 #ashes2017 #returnoftheurn #3nil
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 18, 2017
The urn returns!! Brilliant performance boys! #Ashes
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) December 18, 2017
Yes Australia! The little beaut of a thing is home! #cmonaustralia ##🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 #ashes
— Ryan Harris (@r_harris413) December 18, 2017
Ashes regained 👍👍
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) December 18, 2017
Loved the emotion in celebration particularly from Tim Paine 🎉🎉#Ashes2017 pic.twitter.com/hYHN2PhhJg
Congratulations Australia! Well done lads! 🇦🇺 #Ashes
— Jason Gillespie 🌱 (@dizzy259) December 18, 2017
Great stuff Aussies!! The urn has returned!! Celebrate well lads 🍾🍻👏🏻 #singitloudandsingitproud
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) December 18, 2017
The Ashes are coming home! Well done @stevesmith49 and the Australian cricket team. #Ashes @CricketAus
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) December 18, 2017
England players accepted that Australia deserved to win
Well played Australia! Not much else to say there 😢🏏 #Ashes
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) December 18, 2017
As we all bid a fond farewell to the WACA, Root needs to bid a fond farewell to one of his new ball bowlers! MCG & SCG present him an opportunity to start his young reign as captain again! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/tlDBcYU94Q
— KP (@KP24) December 18, 2017
Well played Australia. The better team in all departments simple as that. #ashes
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) December 18, 2017
Well played Australia. Comfortably the better side. They were far more clinical in so many ways and won those key moments in every game. #Ashes
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) December 18, 2017
Well played Australia, the better team so far. See you in Melbourne. #Ashes
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) December 18, 2017
The big numbers
England’s last 8 Tests in Australia: L L L L L L L L. Their equal-worst losing streak in down under. Also lost eight on the trot between 1920 and 1925. #Ashes
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 18, 2017
3rd innings defeat for England after posting 400+ in 1st inns of the Test since Dec 2016:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 18, 2017
Mumbai: 400, lost by inns & 36 runs
Chennai: 477, lost by inns & 75 runs
Perth: 403, lost by an inns & 41 runs#Ashes
Scoring 400+ in 1st inns of Test and losing by an innings:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 18, 2017
Eng v Aus The Oval 1930
SL v Eng Cardiff 2011
Eng v Ind Mumbai 2016 *
Eng v Ind Chennai 2016 *
Pak v Aus Melbourne 2016
Eng v Aus Perth 2017 *
* 3 of England's last 5 away Tests#bbccricket
POSITIVE ENGLAND STAT ALERT:
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) December 18, 2017
Malan joins this illustrious list of visiting players who have scored a 100 & a 50 in the match in a Test defeat in Australia since 1980:
Williamson - Kohli - Sangakkara - Kallis - Tendulkar - Saeed Anwar - Haynes - Gower.
Useful players. #Ashes
In amongst the doom and gloom a little reminder -
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) December 18, 2017
Last time England won Ashes away from home - 2011.
Last time Australia won the Ashes away from home - 2001
