Adelaide: Australia wrapped up a comprehensive 218-run victory over England on Monday to take a 2-0 series lead, leaving them on the brink of reclaiming the Ashes from their fierce rivals.
The home team claimed the four remaining wickets in just under an hour on the final morning in Adelaide and are now just one victory away from winning back the famous urn after three consecutive series defeats.
It was a second emphatic defeat for England after they lost the first Test in Brisbane by 381 runs and the tourists must regroup before the third match of the series, which starts in Perth on Friday.
England have only won once in 12 Tests on the traditionally pacy WACA pitch.
“I think that something that is most pleasing is we are finally getting some results,” said Australian skipper Michael Clarke.
But he added: “I think we have to be realistic. That’s our second Test win in the past 12 months – certainly not a record we’re proud of.
“There’s a lot of work for us to do to get back to being the number one team in the world and that’s our goal.”
England captain Alastair Cook admitted his side lost the game on the first day when they were guilty of several dropped catches, allowing Australia to pile up an imposing 570 for nine declared.
“On that first day we had an opportunity to a put a bit of pressure on Australia. We let a few chances go, and they really made us pay for that,” he said.
Cook said England’s first innings total of 172 was not good enough.
“You don’t get too many chances on good wickets and we had the opportunity then and we didn’t take it. I thought that was the main difference. Australia took their chances very well,” he said.
“It’s been a tough five days and we’ve got to look at ourselves, look at our performance and come back stronger,” Cook added.
Under overcast skies, wicketkeeper Matt Prior showed defiance with 69 off 102 balls, before he became the ninth batsman to go.
Peter Siddle finished the best of Australia’s bowlers with four for 57. (AFP)
SCORECARD
Australia 1st inn: 570/9 dec
England 1st inn: 172
Australia 2nd inn: 132/3 dec
England 2nd inn: (o’night 247/6)
A Cook c Harris b Johnson 1
M Carberry c Lyon b Siddle 14
J Root c Haddin b Lyon 87
K Pietersen b Siddle 53
I Bell c Johnson b Smith 6
B Stokes c Clarke b Harris 28
M Prior c Lyon b Siddle 69
S Broad c Lyon B Siddle 29
G Swann c Clarke b Harris 6
J Anderson not out 13
M Panesar c Rogers b Harris 0
Extras: (lb-1, w-4, nb-1) 6
Total: (all out; 101.4 overs) 312
FOW: 1-1, 2-20, 3-131, 4-143, 5-171, 6-210, 7-255, 8-293, 9-301
Bowling: Harris 19.4-3-54-3, Johnson 24-8-73-1, Siddle 19-4-57-4, Lyon 26-7-78-1, Watson 6-3-6-0, Smith 7-0-43-1