The Ashes Round-up: Australia reaches for the urn after Adelaide win

Australia firmly ousted England's hopes of a record-breaking Adelaide win which puts Steve Smith's men on the brink of Ashes glory.

Mitchell Starc's five-for cleaned up England's tail to hand Australia a 120 run win.

Australia began day five of the Adelaide Test unsure of itself, but responded brilliantly to take victory and a 2-0 series lead over England.

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The tourist had fought to 176-4 by the end of Tuesday's play, but it was 233 all out in the early session to hand Australia victory by 120 runs .

THE HEADLINES

 

MOMENT OF THE DAY

Root's unbeaten 67 on day four had raised hopes of a record run chase but Hazlewood extracted enough reverse swing to entice a pair of feather edges from Woakes and then the England captain as the tourist's hopes went up in smoke.

OPTA FACTS

 

REACTION

The pressure that had heaped on Steve Smith over his refusal to make England follow-on has suddenly dissolved, the Australia captain said: "We always had faith. It happened quickly, the boys showed some character this morning."

"It's very frustrating because the way we responded with the ball and then the bat was outstanding," Root told BT Sport . "Credit where it's due, they bowled very well first up and we've just got to be better."

THE URN RETURNING?

England has only ever won once at the WACA, when Australia had been weakened by Packer cricket. Grip on the urn has almost been relinquished, dare anyone say the W word…?