It was an exceptional performance from England, with almost everything going according to plan from the first over of the match, when Jonathan Trott ran out Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting was caught at slip off the next ball.
For a while on the final day there was a little doubt as Hussey was dropped, off a thin edge, by Matt Prior just after his 50 and it looked as though Mr Cricket might, with the help of the weather, give the Aussies some hope. A few balls later, however, the 35-year-old Western Australian attempted a reckless, out-of-character pull at the impressive Steven Finn, who used the new ball intelligently in the absence of the injured Stuart Broad, and top edged the ball to Anderson at mid-on. From then on the Australians were capitulating dramatically in much the same way England did at the hands of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne on numerous occasions, including a final-day collapse in Adelaide four years ago.
For Australia, the torrential rain they had hoped for did eventually arrive late in the afternoon but by then the England celebrations were in full swing.
The test was not without its injury problems, Australia opener Simon Katich is likely to miss the rest of the Ashes series against England because of an Achilles tendon injury and it is unlikely he will be available to play any cricket for a couple of months.
Katich's absence means the selectors will now have to find a new partner for Shane Watson, with Philip Hughes the most likely candidate.
England were not immune as seamer Stuart Broad will also miss the rest of the Ashes series with a torn abdominal muscle. The Nottinghamshire star suffered the injury while bowling on the fourth day of the second Test in Adelaide missing the final day's play.
The 3rd. Test starts on 16th. Dec. in Perth and I can hardly wait especially as a win there will mean England will get at least a drawn series and, as the holders, will retain the Ashes. On present form though we can look forward to a much, much, better result than that.
