Captain Michael Clarke vowed there would be no let-up in the final two Tests as rampant Australia eye a 5-0 clean sweep against England after regaining the Ashes yesterday.
Despite registering their third big win in a row to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead, Clarke said Australia hoped to inflict even more pain when the series resumes in Melbourne.
Emphatic victories in Brisbane, Adelaide and now Perth have returned the trophy to Australia for the first time since 2007 and left old enemy England reeling.
“This is a special feeling,” Clarke said of his first Ashes series win as skipper. “You won’t find one guy in the change room, player or support staff, who won’t say this is the pinnacle, playing Test cricket against England.
“I am going to enjoy 3-0 for as long as I can tonight. I am going to enjoy this feeling, but I can guarantee you there won’t be any complacency. We will turn up in Melbourne 100 per cent ready to go and be doing everything we have done in the first three Test matches.”
Clarke is the only player in the Australian team to have experienced an Ashes series win before, when the home team thrashed England 5-0 in 2006-2007.
However, he said the job was not complete, with Australia looking for another whitewash by winning the remaining two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. He added that Australia’s aim now was to “get back that number one ranking” after a period of decline following the retirement of a number of greats.
Despite a determined rearguard action – led by rookie English batsman Ben Stokes (120), whose maiden Test century frayed Australian nerves – the home team ran through the tail after lunch to claim a famous victory at the WACA.
Stokes, 22, showed up his more senior teammates by staying at the crease for 257 minutes and faced 195 balls, hitting 18 fours and one six.
The Australians had won the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide and secured the urn when rejuvenated paceman Mitchell Johnson claimed his 23rd wicket of the series to remove Jimmy Anderson and end the England second innings at 353.
Clarke spared a thought for opposite number Alastair Cook.
“I’ve read a bit of the stuff in the media back in the UK, and I know what Alastair feels like at the moment. It’s not that long ago I sat in the same position.
“I think they’re a very strong team, and the Australian players deserve a lot of credit for the way we’ve performed in this series. Alastair Cook is a fantastic leader. To play 100 Test matches, and have the record he has, I think he deserves a lot of recognition.
"Test cricket is extremely tough, and I know what it feels like to sit on the other side and not get the result you want. But that doesn’t mean you haven’t got the best players there; it doesn’t mean you haven’t got the best captain there.
“I believe Alastair Cook is a wonderful player and a very good captain – and I certainly don’t believe he deserves the criticism I’ve read in the last few days. Nor do the England team. They outplayed us (a few) months ago, in the UK.
“I don’t think it’s fair for someone who’s played 100 Test matches, to judge his career or his captaincy on three Tests in Australia.
“I don’t personally think that’s a fair indication for someone that has been a fantastic player for England over a long period of time.”
Cook took over from Andrew Strauss in 2012 and has lost just four of his 19 Tests in charge, three of those in this series.
