Cricket: "Ashes : Australia Clobber England to level series"

Australia came out of the humiliation which they suffered against England in third test by defeating them by an innings to square the most prestigious Ashes series. England have to win the final test to regain the urn where as Australia has to just draw the match and the series to regain the ashes.

General if cornered Australia backlash and this is what has happened now, they lost the second test and nearly lost the third test too. They were no where when they started the fourth test, but they came back strongly to level series and threatening to take away the series.

England batted first and six of their batsmen where already in pavilion when lunch bell rang. Within no time the other wickets fell and England were allout for just 102 just passing there lowest ever.

Australia too has problems when they lost the first wicket in the second over and Harmison's first but then Ponting and Watson who made a third consecutive fifty in his third consecutive ashes inning made sure they didn't let the England bowlers to settle down. But once Ponting and Watson were back there was a slight hiccup when they lost 3 quick wickets and were 184 for 4 but the most consistent batsmen for Australia Michael Clarke and North came to their rescue and gave Australia a huge lead. Michael Clarke was unlucky to miss his century but North completed his overall third and second ashes century and made sure that Australia had to never bat again in this test.

England started their second inning with more than 300 runs deficit and more than 2 days of plays left. They again collapsed like first innings but Board and Swann made sure that they didn't loose without a fight. Board and Swann counter attacked and scored more than 100 runs in less than 12 overs to provide some pride in a loosing cause. Johnson who was out of form throughout this series came to the party this time and took 5 wickets to shut England out of the contest and leveled the series.

Man of the Match was awarded to North for his superb 110 for Australia.