ESPNcricinfo
England set off on a mission to win in Australia for the first time since 1986-87 and ruthlessly put their plans into action in Andy Flower-approved style. Alastair Cook led the way with 766 runs - the most by an England player in an Ashes series since Wally Hammond in 1928-29 - while James Anderson's 24 wickets proved a point in a country that had previously been less than hospitable. The series was Ricky Ponting's last as Test captain and defeat made him the first Australian leader to lose three Ashes series since 1890. England recorded three innings victories, although this was not a complete steamrollering: in Brisbane, Peter Siddle's hat-trick and tons for Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin gave Australia a 221-run first-innings advantage, requiring Cook to lay his first marker with an unbeaten 235 in England's 517 for 1; in Perth, England were thoroughly Mitchell Johnson-ed, the left-armer claiming nine wickets to go with a half-century in a heavy defeat. That left the teams level with two to play, after England had exorcised the ghost of Adelaide - Cook made another ton and Kevin Pietersen 227 as Australia's bowlers managed only five wickets in the match. On Boxing Day, England landed punishing blows, Australia dismissed for 98 before tea. The Ashes retained, England celebrated at the MCG with a demonstration of the sprinkler dance but the dousing was not quite complete. In Sydney, England finally ended their barren run down under, Cook's 189 capping a Man of the Series performance and leaving a demoralised Australia to contemplate how greatly their cricket had slumped.
England 3 Australia 1 Drawn 1
England set off on a mission to win in Australia for the first time since 1986-87 and ruthlessly put their plans into action in Andy Flower-approved style. Alastair Cook led the way with 766 runs - the most by an England player in an Ashes series since Wally Hammond in 1928-29 - while James Anderson's 24 wickets proved a point in a country that had previously been less than hospitable. The series was Ricky Ponting's last as Test captain and defeat made him the first Australian leader to lose three Ashes series since 1890. England recorded three innings victories, although this was not a complete steamrollering: in Brisbane, Peter Siddle's hat-trick and tons for Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin gave Australia a 221-run first-innings advantage, requiring Cook to lay his first marker with an unbeaten 235 in England's 517 for 1; in Perth, England were thoroughly Mitchell Johnson-ed, the left-armer claiming nine wickets to go with a half-century in a heavy defeat. That left the teams level with two to play, after England had exorcised the ghost of Adelaide - Cook made another ton and Kevin Pietersen 227 as Australia's bowlers managed only five wickets in the match. On Boxing Day, England landed punishing blows, Australia dismissed for 98 before tea. The Ashes retained, England celebrated at the MCG with a demonstration of the sprinkler dance but the dousing was not quite complete. In Sydney, England finally ended their barren run down under, Cook's 189 capping a Man of the Series performance and leaving a demoralised Australia to contemplate how greatly their cricket had slumped.
England 3 Australia 1 Drawn 1