The Ashes third Test day five RECAP: Australia clinch series with clinical 82-run win in Adelaide
The Ashes third Test, day five
Australia clinched an 82-run win - MATCH CENTRE
Australia
Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Cam Green, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
England
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
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Good afternoon
That concludes Wide World of Sports' live coverage of day five of the third Ashes Test.
The urn is staying home.
The hosts secured an emphatic 82-run victory at the Adelaide Oval, taking an unassailable 3-0 series lead to retain the Ashes with two Tests to spare.
The hallowed turf of the MCG awaits. Join us then for the Boxing Day Test.
From all of us here, have a very Merry Christmas.
Cummins to sit on Boxing Day call
With the Ashes safely retained, all eyes now turn to the historic Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
However, whether skipper Pat Cummins will lead the Australian side out in Melbourne remains a mystery.
Asked if his back would hold up for the remainder of the series or if he would instead rest for the fourth Test, Cummins was non-committal.
"We'll see how I pull up over the next day or two, and we'll make a decision, but savour this one for now," he said during the post-match presentation.
'Sorry sight' hits Aussies with Lyon sent for scans
ADELAIDE: Australia has been hit by an injury blow to Nathan Lyon after the off-spinner walked off the field after fielding a ball on the boundary.
Cricket Australia confirmed it's a hamstring injury and that Lyon is out for the rest of the match.
Lyon dived down at fine leg following a Jamie Smith pull shot off Cameron Green and managed to stop the four, but pulled up lame.
Nathan Lyon arrives at hospital. Nine
Ashes retained by 'worst Australian team since 2010'
Stuart Broad, eat your words.
The Ashes have been retained by Australia in 11 days after the series was sealed at the Adelaide Oval in a comprehensive 82-run victory.
It comes after Broad had described the home side as "the worst Australian team since 2010" before the series started.
Australia celebrates as the Ashes are retained with two Tests to spare. Getty
Cummins hails squad depth
Having missed the opening two Tests through injury, Pat Cummins stepped back into the side seamlessly, picking up six wickets for the match to lead Australia to an unassailable 3-0 advantage.
The final day at the Adelaide Oval was far from straightforward.
With England showing stiff resistance and a flat pitch offering little assistance, Cummins emphasised that composure was the key to claiming the final three wickets.
"I think that's when we're at our best, this team. You can't really rush things here in Australia... it's a good old-fashioned grind a lot of the time," he said during the post-match presentation.
"I love the toil from all the guys today. It got a little bit closer than I would have liked, but [I'm] pretty happy."
Whether it was Usman Khawaja being handed a last-minute reprieve for an injured Steve Smith or Nathan Lyon suffering a hamstring injury in the final hours of day five, Cummins praised the "seamless" nature of the Australian setup.
"I think that's one of the things I'm most proud of with this group — nothing ever really happens perfectly," he said.
"Over the last few years, this group has shown you just kind of crack on. Nathan Lyon doing his 'hammy' with a couple of hours left today, but the boys just go, 'OK, that's happened, let's crack on, what's next?'."
Starc laughs off critics
Dismissing the "old" labels directed at the Australian squad ahead of the series, Mitchell Starc credited the group's level-headedness and the leadership of Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald as the keys to navigating high-pressure moments.
"We do laugh at some of the comments that get back to us about how old we are, and I think that plays a part in how calm this group is," Strac told Fox Cricket post-match.
"Even at times where it's not going our way, we can find a way to get ourselves over the line."
That composure was tested in what became a bittersweet victory, as Australia's premier spinner, Nathan Lyon, suffered a significant hamstring injury during the final session.
However, Starc praised the collective effort required to cover the void left by the veteran tweaker.
"It's a massive shame for Nath to go down... but again, we just found a way, which I think is a feature of this group for a number of years now," he said.
Local hero named player of the match
Alex Carey has been named player of the match on his home turf.
With a century, a fifty, and seven dismissals, it was a historic all-round performance at the Adelaide Oval by Carey.
"We knew what was on the line coming into this match, and I thought the boys stayed really present and played what was in front of us," Carey said during the post-match presentation.
"We know England are such a good cricket team and we're gonna be challenged, and, again, right to the end today it was a real grind, but, for the boys to all chip in, throughout the series so far, it's been a lot of fun, and this Adelaide crowd throughout the last five days has just been something special."
Captain Patrick Cummins saved special praise for South Australians Carey and Travis Head post-game, whose centuries in front of their home crowd essentially batted England out of the game.
"[I] don't know where both their statues are gonna go soon, but they deserve it," he said. "Seeing two homegrown heroes [perform like that] was awesome."
Starc hails 'awesome' Ashes victory
Mitchell Starc has played a critical role in Australia retaining the Ashes.
Speaking afterwards, Starc reflected on Australia's hard-fought victory and the challenging nature of the conditions on the final day.
He acknowledged that while the Adelaide pitch offered little assistance for the bowlers as the game reached its climax, the sheer difficulty of taking those final wickets made the win feel all the more meaningful.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc roars in celebration after removing England’s Will Jacks for 47 on the final day in Adelaide Getty
"I'm bloody good. Mate, we worked for it," Starc told Fox Cricket.
"Bit of a flat wicket and they played pretty well, but I think they're the ones that sort of cherish a bit more and you have to work a bit harder.
"It's been a great atmosphere all week, all series so far.
"Can't fault anyone today. It was awesome."
AUSTRALIA WIN!!!
IT'S ALL OVER!
Scott Boland gets the final wicket, nicking off Tongue as Labuschagne takes the catch.
Australia have won the Ashes series and have retained the urn.
"England came with so much hope, but they have been destroyed by the men in the baggy greens," Mark Howard said on Fox Cricket.
One wicket to go!
Starc drops it short and wide outside off-stump and Archer falls into the trap, smacking it straight down Weatherald's throat on the boundary.
Australia are one wicket away from winning the series and retaining the Ashes urn!
Australian players celebrate a wicket Getty