The Australian cricket writer Peter Lalor says Nathan Lyon's second innings five-for against England is one of Australian cricket's great stories.
Chris Rogers plays a cut shot in front of England's Ian Bell during the final innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Picture: AP Source: AP
David Warner walks off after being dismissed during day four of the Fourth Ashes Test at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
AUSTRALIA will head to Sydney confident of a series whitewash after its remarkable Melbourne comeback ended in an eight wicket win in the fourth Ashes Test today.
The last English resistance was laid low at 2.26pm Melbourne time when Shane Watson (83 not out, 90 balls, 11 fours) hit Monty Panesar through square leg to trigger another Australian celebration.
Mitchell Johnson's match haul of 8-88 earned him a third man of the match award for the series.
This loss must rank just below Adelaide in 2006-07 as one of England's most embarrassing Ashes moments, given the visitors led by more than 100 on the third day with all 10 second innings wickets intact.
The touring party was listless in the field today, repeatedly misfielding on a true surface and dropping centurion Chris Rogers (116, 207 minutes, 155 balls, 13 fours) twice.
The left-handed opener's 100 - which has surely booked him a ticket to South Africa in the New Year -- came in 135 balls and was laced with 11 fours.
Rogers' confidence was such that he walked at Tim Bresnan to punch the English quick down the ground for three to move to 98.
The century came in the next over from a sweetly cover-driven four - perhaps his best shot of the day.
His handsome cover-driving was complemented by neat flicks through the on-side and merciless back cuts to the vacant third man rope.
The first of his two lives came when, on 19, he edged Broad behind, where a lead-footed Jonny Bairstow allowed the ball to streak to the third man rope.
The second came in the first over after lunch when he edged Stuart Broad behind, only for the chance to sneak under Bairstow's despairing left glove.
Other than Rogers, caught by Bairstow off Panesar, England's only success today came when Dave Warner was caught behind from the bowling of Ben Stokes for 25 (47 balls, three fours).
The opener was trying to cut Stokes over the slips but got too little on the ball for the keeper to take a regulation catch.
Resuming on 0-30, with Rogers on 18 and Warner 12, the latter was the first to score, lashing Broad to the backward point boundary in the second over.
Broad found Rogers' outside edge in his next over but Bairstow did not move for what should have been a comfortable keeper's catch.
Cook was left to dive to his right for a catch that never should have been his to take.
His outstretched right hand only momentarily delayed the ball's path to the third man rope.
Rogers compounded England's misery by steering Broad's next ball over the cordon for another four.
Cook had only himself to blame when he turfed a healthy edge from Warner off Stokes two overs later.
The score was now past 50, and the times called for desperate measures.
Cook tossed the ball to the very part time Joe Root, in an act of unintentional rather than unconditional surrender.
Curiously, Panesar did not bowl until 25 minutes before the lunch break.
Further signs of the end of hostilities came after drinks when a less than full hearted effort from Kevin Pietersen at mid-on gifted Watson a four.
When another Watson drive went between Pietersen's legs - to bring the target under 100 - the instrument of surrender was being laid out in the pavilion.
LIVE BLOG: All the action from Day Four at the MCG
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