Australia crush England

SYDNEY - A rampant Australia sealed a 5-0 Ashes series sweep by skittling England out for 166 to claim a 281-run victory with more than two days to spare in the fifth test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.Australia completed a remarkable turnaround after losing 4-0 in India and 3-0 in England last year, crushing the dispirited tourists with five dominant victories on home soil.England reached the tea interval on 87 for three chasing a highly improbable 448 for victory and when four wickets fell in the first 11 balls after the break, their miserable tour was all but over.Pacemen Ryan Harris (5-25), later named Man of the Match, and Man of the Series Mitchell Johnson (3-40) did the most damage as the hosts dismissed the tourists inside 35 overs.Australia had already reclaimed the coveted urn after winning the Brisbane test by 381 runs, the Adelaide match by 218 runs, in Perth by 150 runs and taking an eight wicket triumph in Melbourne.A fifth thumping victory had always looked on the cards after Australia’s pace attack tore through England’s top order in the first hour of day two.A similar collapse after tea on day three made it certain and the SCG, bathed in pink in honour of Glenn McGrath’s breast cancer charity, rose to hail the Australians after Harris had ended England’s resistance by dismissing Boyd Rankin.“It’s obviously a very special occasion. We couldn’t have foreseen the 5-0 after the England series but I said then the work we were putting in was going to get rewards,” a beaming Clarke said at the presentation ceremony.“I think the bowlers have done a fantastic job. In my opinion we have the best attack in the world. I think they’ve earned that mantle.”Chris Rogers had earlier recorded his highest test score with a knock of 119 to inflate Australia’s lead before they were dismissed for 279 soon after lunch.

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Australia crush England