England retained the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years by completing an emphatic innings and 157-run win over Australia before lunch on Wednesday's fourth day of the fourth Test.
England's victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground means it travels to the final Test in Sydney starting on Sunday with a 2-1 series lead, but as the Ashes-holder, England needed to only draw the series to keep the urn.
The England team completed a lap of honour to the cheers of a vocal MCG crowd dominated by England's 'Barmy Army' fans.
After the match England cricket team break out the "sprinkler dance".
Australia's loss looked inevitable from day one when it was dismissed for a paltry 98 in two rain-shortened sessions on the first day. A capitulation became inevitable early on the third day when England replied with a first-innings total of 513 for a massive 415-run lead.
Bresnan claimed the vital wickets of Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey after tea on Tuesday to become the architect of yet another poor Australian batting performance.
Bresnan, who replaced Steven Finn in England's bowling attack for the fourth Test, ended the innings with figures of 4-50. Tremlett had 1-71, Anderson had 1-71 and Swan finished with 2-59.
Shane Watson provided Australia's second highest score of the match with 54, while the England lineup featured knocks of 168 from man of the match Jonathan Trott, 85 from Matt Prior and 82 by Alastair Cook, proving that the MCG wicket had plenty to offer the batsmen.
Siddle's bowling provided the only highlight for the Australians, taking 6-75. Johnson, who took 9 wickets in Australia's 267-run win at Perth in the third Test, was far less effective in Melbourne, conceding 134 runs for his two wickets.
Australia captain Ponting's future has come under intense scrutiny in the light of the series loss, his failure with the bat, a finger injury and his unseemly remonstrations with the on-field umpires on Monday after having a reviewed decision ruled not out.
After making just 10 runs in Australia's disastrous first innings, Ponting was unable to make amends and managed 20 in the second.
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