England crushed Australia by 225 runs on Monday to win the fifth Ashes Test and end the series on a high-note after being thumped in the four previous matches. Veteran paceman Andy Caddick captured seven wickets in an inspired display of fast bowling as Australia collapsed to be all out for 226 in their second innings chasing 452 to win. Vaughan climbs highest English peak since Gooch shes series that concluded on Monday, has climbed to the highest rating for an England batsman since former captain Graham Gooch was top a decade ago. Vaughan, who scored 183 in England’s second innings in their only victory in the fifth and final Test, is second in the ratings behind Australian opener Matthew Hayden and ahead of third-placed South African Jacques Kallis. Andy Caddick is in sixth place on the bowlers’ list headed by Glenn McGrath of Australia after taking seven wickets for 94 in Australia’s second innings in the fifth Test and 10 altogether in the match. — Reuters SCOREBOARD England (1st Innings): 362 Australia (1st Innings): 363 England (2nd Innings): 452-9 Decl Australia (2nd Innings): (Overnight 91/3) J Langer lbw Caddick 3, M Hayden lbw Hoggard 2, A Bichel lbw Caddick 49, R Ponting lbw Caddick 11, D Martyn c Stewart b Dawson 21, S Waugh b Caddick 6, M Love b Harmison 27, A Gilchrist c Butcher b Caddick 37, B Lee c Stewart b Caddick 46, J Gillespie not out 3, S MacGill b Caddick 1; Extras: (b-6, lb-8, w-3, nb-3): 20 Total: 226 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-5, 3-25, 4-93, 5-99, 6-109, 7-139, 8-181, 9-224. Bowling: Hoggard 13-3-35-1, Caddick 22-5-94-7, Harmison 9-1-42-1, Dawson 10-2-41-1 “It was a great Test match, one of the best I’ve ever played in,” England captain Nasser Hussain said. “But let’s not suddenly make out everything’s turned round. “It’s the same old story really, we lost the Ashes 1-4, that’s the bottom line.” Australia resumed the final day at 91-3, needing to bat through the entire day on a crumbling Sydney Cricket Ground pitch to save the Test, but folded quickly to be all out 48 minutes after lunch in just 54 overs. Australia’s defeat was their first on home soil against any country in more than four years and their heaviest loss to England since they were beaten by an innings and 14 runs at Melbourne in December 1986. Caddick captured the wickets of Andy Bichel, Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee and Stuart MacGill after dismissing Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting on Sunday to finish with 7-94, his second best return in 62 Test appearances. The 34-year-old ended Australia’s last real hope of saving the match when he collected three scalps in his first spell then returned after lunch to mop up the tail and finish with 10 for the match for the first time in his career. Australia’s star-studded batting lineup failed to show any real resistance with fast bowlers Bichel and Lee top scoring with 49 and 46 respectively while wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist made an adventurous 37 when the match was as good as over. Set a near-impossible 452 to win after England’s man of the match and player of the series Michael Vaughan struck a masterful 183 in the second innings, Australia’s hopes of at least forcing a draw disappeared when they lost five wickets in the session after starting the day at 91-3.(Reuters)
