Australia completed a comprehensive victory in the fifth Test to dampen England's Ashes-winning celebrations at The Oval. The tourists took England's four remaining second-innings wickets either side of a three-hour rain delay to win by an innings and 46 runs. Peter Siddle made the breakthrough when he trapped Mark Wood lbw for six before Jos Buttler chipped Mitchell Marsh to mid-off for 42. When play resumed in mid-afternoon sunshine Siddle bowled Stuart Broad for 11 and had Moeen Ali caught behind for 35 to finish with 4-35 as England were bowled out for 286.
The defeat had no bearing on the destination of the Ashes, with England captain Alastair Cook lifting the iconic urn after his team won the series 3-2. The hosts, underdogs coming into the series, avenged the 5-0 whitewash down under in 2010-11 and have now won all four home Ashes series since losing in 2001. Australia will take solace from the emphatic manner in which they finished the series, ensuring they sent captain Michael Clarke into retirement on a winning note.
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