Live Blogs / Ed Hawkins / 06 January 2011 /

Ed Hawkins is here, ready to talk you through the dying embers of this Ashes series.Join in with the fun by following him on Twitter here

Eng win series 3-1
Let's leave the final word to Andrew Strauss, who joined Sir Len Hutton and Mike Brearley to become only the third England captain to win Ashes series at home and away.
"We came over here desperately wanting to win the series," he said.
"Obviously in Melbourne we retained the Ashes but we really wanted to finish with a bang here in Sydney.
"All credit to the guys, they've been outstanding again, the way the bowlers bowled on day one, the batsmen dipped their bread in it again and we got another victory.
"We're certainly going to enjoy this evening, that's for sure."

01.37 Eng win series 3-1
Well I suppose that's it then. Alastair Cook won man of the series and was awarded ... wait for it ... a plastic bat. Still, he would probably have averaged more than 100 with it against this Australia attack. England will celebrate hard. Australia will drown their sorrows and then decide that the Ashes has never really meant that much to them. That's how they roll. I'll be back with a wrap sometime in the morning. Also, don't forget to keep it here for the one-day series to come.

01.01 Eng win by innings and 83 runs and win series 3-1
Nasser went for 'put the Beer away and put the champagne on ice'. Not bad. So England win in Australia for the first time in 24 years. A richly deserved victory against a poor Australia side. Here's the roll call for all those betting markets we wagered on way back in November.
Top Australia batsman: 570runs M Hussey
Top Australia bowler: 15wkts M Johnson
Top England batsman: 766 A Cook
Top England bowler: 24 J Anderson

WICKET 00.56 Aus 281, Eng win by innings and 83 runs
M Beer b Tremlett 2

00.52 Aus 280-9
Steve Smith goes to 50. The laughable thing about that little achievement is that Australia will probably stick with him. Ha! Shane Warne says "that shows he's got something about him". What? Scoring runs when not only the Test is lost but the series, too? David Lloyd has said there's a big shower on its way. Can't see it on my radar.

00.43 Aus 267-9
It looks like we've avoided a broadcasting nadir with Nasser Hussain and Shane Warne replacing David Lloyd and Ian Botham in the comms box. Lloyd is fine but the moment would have been to much for Sirloin. 'And, er, there, oooooooooom, it is...' would have been my guess. Nasser will be the guy describing the final wicket then, which is apt because he is the most recent England captain available and one who suffered more than most at the hands of the Australians.

WICKET 00.40 Aus 267-9
B Hilfenhaus c Prior b Anderson 7

00.30 Aus 257-8
One down, two to go for England. Ben Hilfenhaus is the new batsman. England have a new ball in two overs. That probably impacted on Siddle's thinking. He though he'd play some shots before the cherry. That was Swann's 15th wicket of the series putting him behind Tremlett (16) and Anderson (23). Bresnan has taken 11 wickets you know. Amazing.

WICKET Aus 257-8
P Siddle c Anderson b Swann 43

00.14 Aus 244-7
Sirlon of Beef is getting agitated already. "They need to wake up...don't let themselves down now." I wonder why he was such a dreadful captain?

00.07 Aus 233-7
We are back on after the rain. Come on England get on with it, people have got beds to go to. An odd field for Bresnan to Smith. Two short midwickets and two slips.

23.49 Aus 228-7
Listening to TMS at the mo. Ian Chappell has an extraordinary memory for past results. He is also discussing Australia's selection issues. "It's very easy to toss guys out, it's harder to find someone better." Indeed, I've heard very few names mentioned as to who might come in for the likes of Phil Hughes, Steve Smith, Ben Hilfenhaus.

RAIN 23.43 Aus 228-7
Covers have come off and gone back on again as the rain has started once more.

RAIN 23.26 Aus 228-7
Off they come. Can't think it'll be very long, though before they come out again. Out comes a morning finish to [1.52]. Not a bad bet that.

23.23 Aus 227-7
Australia are [3.20] to make it to lunch. I suppose there only hope of making it is rain. Showers are expected to roll in from the ocean now and again. But our weather radar suggests they would only be off for a few minutes.

23.14 Aus 217-7
I wonder how much clamour there is in the comms box to be the duo on air when the final wicket is taken? After all, it is an opportunity to mark an historic occasion with some historic words. It will be replayed for years to come. I hope the teams at Sky, TMS and Channel 9 have been doing some prep work. David Gower, who was in air for the MCg, clearly had not bothered. But Gower was never really one for the nets.

23.04 Aus 213-7
Oh right, the betting? Well there isn't any. Australia are [1000.00] with England [1.02] and the draw is [44.00]. I suppose the only live market is Australia second innings runs. You can lay them at [1.78] for 250 or more. They are [2.40] for 275 or more.

22.58 Aus 213-7
There was a bit of a rain shower an hour ago at the SCG so we could get a delayed start. But fret not England backers, there is not enough rain forecast to deny the tourists. Personally, I hope England finish the job within 20 minutes. It would be irritating indeed if we had to go past lunch.

22.48 Aus 213-7
The bell tolls for thee, Australia. England just need three wickets to inflict ignominy. Steve Smith and Peter Siddle will resume on the morning of day five, and for everyone's sake, let's hope it is wrapped up quickly.

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