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5th Test Match, Sydney
England won the toss and put Australia in to bat first. The pitch had a few cracks in it and it will get worn later on assisting the spinners. So it will be very difficult for England batting last against Australia's spin attack. Australia have dropped Nicholson and Fleming from their squad and are playing three spinners. The one England will fear the most is Shane Warne who returns for the first time in six months after recovering from a shoulder injury. Colin Miller the Australian off-spinner will probably open the bowling with McGrath. England are without Mike Atherton who is suffering with a back injury. Fraser has made way for Tudor and Essex spinner Peter Such has replaced Mullally.
Australia were bowled out just by lunch on day two. They managed 366 which is a good score and it could put England out of contention. Justin Langer top-scored with 69 and Steve Waugh got 47. Alex Tudor was the best of the bowlers. He finished with figures of 3/55. Peter Such took 3/90.
England in reply fell 40 runs short of Australia they scored 326. Mark butcher hit a superb century and Mark Ramprakash got 54. Miller took 3/53 and McGrath got 2/50.
Australia built on their lead when they added excellent 236 runs in the second innings. Mark Taylor returned to form and hit 71 while Healy finished unbeaten on 36. Alex Tudor got 4/44 to finish with match figures of 7/99. Darren Gough was the second best bowler taking 2/40.
England required 277 runs to win but were skittled out for just 119. Stuart MacGill was the destroyer taking 5/17. Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash were the only two batsmen who looked like getting runs but they both went out.
Australia won the match by 157 runs to win the series. The man of the match was Stuart MacGill. Shane Warne made a promising start to the second half of his career and finished with match figures of 3/125. Warren Hegg who was playing his second test match struggled when it came to batting and is unlikely to keep his place in the team. England's man of the series was Darren Gough who was the best bowler in the team claiming over 20 wickets. Steve Waugh won it for Australia as he often got them out of jail. Well, that’s the end of another Ashes series and once again Australia have won it.
