The Ashes: England cruise to victory

England have retained the Ashes, defeating Australia in the fourth test by an innings and 157 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The win means England has retained the Ashes for the first time on Australian soil since 1986-87.

Australia were unable to fight their way back into the test after they were bowled out for only 98 runs in the first innings. England replied with a whopping 518 runs, with man-of-the match winner Jonathan Trott scoring 168 runs.

Australia had to bat out two and a half days to save the match, but were bowled out on the first session of day four for 258.

The Australian second innings started well, with a 53-run opening stand, before Shane Watson ran out his fellow opener Phil Hughes.

England continued to get wickets at regular intervals during day three and Australia struggled to put together substantial partnerships. Peter Siddle and keeper Brad Hadden combined for 86 for the eighth wicket, but when Siddle was dismissed for 40 Australia were all but resigned to defeat.

Brad Haddin was left not-out on 55, when Ben Hilfenhaus was caught behind off the bowling of Tim Bresnan, his fourth wicket of the innings. Ryan Harris did not bat after suffering a stress fracture to his left foot.

Bresnan was the star for England in the second innings, taking four wickets for 50 runs in his 21.4 overs.

The final test, in Sydney next week, will be a dead rubber with England leading the series 2-1.

Victorious English captain Andrew Strauss said his team put in a "top quality performance".

"The way our bowlers bowled on the first days was very special."

Strauss commended the English supporters, who have often drowned out the home crowds throughout the series.

"The Barmy Army have been absolutely outstanding."

While the fifth match, due to begin on January 3, will have no bearing on the Ashes, Strauss is determined the team win again.

"We came here to win the series," he said. "It would be a disappointment not to win the series."

Under-pressure Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who has averaged only a shade over 16 runs per innings in the series, was disappointed with the result, but credited the way England had played, not just in the fourth test, but all series.

"Our batting wasn't good enough on day one," he said.

"When England got their shot with the bat they showed us how to bat in test match cricket."

He is vowing to fight to save respectability in the fifth test to be played in Sydney on January 3.

"We owe it to ourselves and to the fans around Australia to show a bit of pride.

The defeat makes Ponting the first Australian captain to lose three Ashes series to England and has fuelled speculation about his future at the helm of the Australian side.

Ponting acknowledged he has had a "horrible" series but hoped he would get another chance in Sydney.

"I've still got a lot to offer the game," he said.