Australia defeated England in Perth on Monday to regain the Ashes as they took an unassailable 3-0 series lead.
Australia’s extra pace was the difference at the WACA as England’s lack of firepower was exposed.
With this, Australia have become the most successful side in Ashes history with 33 series victories compared to England’s 32 in a befitting final Test for the WACA.
Here, we look at the good and the bad of the Test.
THE GOOD
STEVE SMITH’S EPIC DOUBLE TON
The Australian skipper is simply operating on another planet compared to the rest of the batsmen in world cricket at the moment.
He once again was a brick wall to the English bowlers who struggled to conjure a way to get him out throughout the Test.
Smith‘s counter-attacking 239 seized the momentum from the visitors and put Australia in the driving seat despite England racking up 400 odd in their first innings.
His 22nd Test ton, and the biggest so far of his extraordinary career, was up there with one of the best Ashes innings ever played.
The Aussie’s stunning batting average of 62.32 is second only to the legendary Don Bradman’s 99.94.
What is even more staggering is that he has averaged over 72 since scoring his maiden Test ton against the same opposition in August 2013.
His 239 is the third highest by an Aussie captain in an Ashes Test, behind only Bob Simpson and Don Bradman.
Smith’s 239 is the third highest by an Aussie captain in the Ashes.
MITCHELL MARSH SILENCES DOUBTERS
The Marshes are developing a habit of making critics eat their words in this series.
It was elder brother Shaun who erased questions over his surprise selection with a superb ton in the first Test at Brisbane and it was the younger Mitchell who performed the same trick in Perth.
Coming into the team on the back of a solid season in Shield cricket, Mitchell was preferred over Peter Handscomb to provide Australia with an added option in the bowling attack.
His bowling abilities seemed surplus to requirement at the WACA but it was with the bat that Marsh silenced his doubters.
The junior Marsh showed a new facet to his game with a much improved batting technique as he plundered England’s attack to all corners of the ground.
He registered his maiden Test ton and was looking good for a double-hundred before being pinned by James Anderson for 181 off just 236 deliveries.
His 301-run epic stand with the skipper for the fifth wicket was a match-winning one.
Marsh has repaid the faith shown by the selectors.
THE BAD
MOEEN ALI DOES A DISAPPEARING ACT
The all-rounder has been given the added responsibility as the sole England spinner in three Tests so far and his performances have paled in comparisons to those of Australia’s Nathan Lyon.
While Lyon has managed to build-up the pressure and hold one end up while also chipping away at wickets, Ali has failed at both.
His dismissal of Shaun Marsh in the match was only his third wicket in the series so far. However, more disappointing than Ali’s benign threat with the ball has been his utter failure with the bat. He was dismissed for a duck in the first innings before being dismissed for 11 in the second by Lyon.
It was the fifth time in six innings that the England all-rounder has fallen to Lyon.
The 30-year has now scored only 38 runs in his last four innings at Australia and his form has been one of the reasons for England’s shambles of a tour so far Down Under.
Ali has disappointed with both bat and ball.
ALASTAIR COOK IN FREEFALL
The senior most English batsman had come under increasing fire after his failures in the first two Tests of the series.
It did not prove to get any better for the 32-year-old at Perth where he was dismissed for 7 and 17 in the two innings.
While his opening partner Mark Stoneman has displayed some grit in his debut Ashes series, Cook has been a shadow of his former self.
He was late to get his bat down to a full delivery from Mitchell Starc in the first innings and was caught and bowled by Josh Hazlewood in the second after a huge leading edge while attempting an on-drive.
His failures up top have meant that England have not had the luxury of a single good start in their six innings so far.
Only 83 runs have come off Cook’s bat in his six innings Down Under, a shocking statistic for a man of his calibre.
Cook has been a shadow of his former self.
