29 Dec 2010

England win fourth test and retain Ashes

2:14 pm on 29 December 2010

The England cricket side have won the fourth test in Melbourne by an innings and 157 runs to retain the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years.

The victory, sealed on the fourth morning, has given holders England a 2-1 lead in the series, which will be completed with the fifth and final test in Sydney next week.

Australia resumed on 169-6, still facing a 246-run deficit to make England bat again but lost their remaining wickets shortly before lunch to be all out for 258.

The injured Ryan Harris did not bat.

The team of England captain Andrew Strauss is the first to retain the Ashes in Australia since Mike Gatting lead the tourists to a 2-1 series win in 1986/87, the decisive victory also sealed at the MCG.