Australia will try to inflict total humiliation on England by completing a 5-0 whitewash as they attempt to become the world’s best Test team.
Michael Clarke’s side regained the Ashes today after they defeated the tourists by 150 runs in Perth, giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and ending England’s sequence of three consecutive victories in these contests.
It is a remarkable story, especially after England came into the series as favourites, having prevailed 3-0 in home conditions last summer. But this has been Australia’s winter.
“We want to get to world No1 and we’d love to win the series 5-0,” said Clarke, who played when Australia won by that margin here seven years ago. “Today, as (vice-captain) Brad Haddin said, we brought it home. To get the Ashes back is so special because of the work these guys have put in.
“I don’t think you’ll find one bloke in that dressing room who won’t say that this is the pinnacle. Playing Test cricket against England and winning the Ashes.
“That’s always been the pinnacle for Australian cricketers. Test cricket, in my opinion, is certainly the pinnacle and the hardest form of the game. I guess all the boys deserve to have this feeling and we’ll make sure we enjoy it.”
Australia’s performance has improved greatly since the last Ashes battle but their key has been Mitchell Johnson, the once-wayward fast bowler who did not even play in last summer’s series.
The left-arm quick has been sensational in these matches and after three games, he has 23 wickets. Clarke acknowledged: “Mitch has known his role from the start of the series, in this team at the moment with the other bowlers around him. Again, credit to the other guys.
“They’ve played a big part to allow Mitch to bowl the way he has bowled. That’s the class of Mitchell Johnson.”
Clarke also had words of sympathy for England skipper Alastair Cook, having already tasted Ashes defeat as a captain himself this year.
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This was the 100th Test for both men and Clarke added: “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 seen.
“I don’t think it’s fair, for someone who has played, to judge his career or his captaincy on three Test matches in Australia.
“I don’t feel that’s a fair indication of somebody who has been a fantastic player for England over a long period of time.”
