Stuart Broad bowled England to a stunning 74-run fourth Test win over Australia with more than a day to spare as they took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series.
Australia, set 299 to win on Monday’s fourth day at Chester-le-Street, were well-placed at 168/2 but slumped to 224 as paceman Broad took six wickets for 50 runs for a Test-best match haul of 11/121.
The victory meant England, who had already retained the Ashes, had won three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s.
“I was glad I could contribute,” said Broad at the presentation ceremony.
“The wicket suited my style of bowling and I found a slightly fuller length,” added Broad, the son of Ashes-winning former England batsman Chris.
England captain Alastair Cook was stunned by the turn of events.
“At tea we still had a lot of wickets to get. I didn’t expect us to be stood here at 8 pm having won the Ashes.”
A bowler who can blow hot and cold, Broad at his best is as tough to face as anyone currently in world cricket and Cook added: “Stuart Broad was incredible — he bowled some jaffas (unplayable deliveries) out there.
“When he clicks he’s got everything — pace, movement and control. When those three click it is hard to face.”
David Warner and fellow left-hander Chris Rogers gave Australia a solid platform with an opening stand of 109 before first-innings century-maker Rogers edged off-spinner Graeme Swann to Jonathan Trott at slip on 49.
And from then on it was largely one-way traffic with Australia captain Michael Clarke saddened his side’s batsmen couldn’t back up the efforts of fast bowler Ryan Harris, who earlier Monday took a Test-best 7/117.
“We got outplayed, Stuart Broad bowled a couple of outstanding spells and as soon as we lost Chris Rogers we found it difficult,” Clarke said.
“We’ve got to play better than that — Chris and Davey (Warner) played exceptionally well but we couldn’t get over the line.
“Our bowlers have done a fantastic job throughout this series, Ryan Harris was outstanding and I feel really disappointed that I’ve let him down,” he said.
The fifth and final Test starts at The Oval in south London on August 21.