Australia crashes to big Ashes Test defeat

SYDNEY, Jan 6 AAP - Veteran England paceman Andy Caddick sent Australia crashing to a 225-run defeat in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

Set the highly improbable target of 452 for victory, Australia was bowled out for 226 in its second innings after a disastrous collapse in which it lost 5-90 on the final morning.

Caddick closed the innings with 7-94, giving him his first 10 wicket Test haul following his 3-121 in the first innings.

The emphatic victory gave England some consolation after losing the first four Tests and there was a further boost when its opener Michael Vaughan was named player of the match and player of the series.

Australia's defeat was its first on home soil against any country in more than four years and its heaviest loss to England since it was were beaten by an innings and 14 runs at Melbourne in December 1986.

Australia resumed the final day at 3-91, needing to bat through the entire day on a crumbling Sydney Cricket Ground pitch to save the Test.

But it folded quickly to be all out 48 minutes after lunch.

Despite batting in obvious pain after injuring his elbow while bowling yesterday, Jason Gillespie remained unbeaten on three after Stuart MacGill was the last man out, bowled by Caddick for one.

Nightwatchman Andy Bichel started the collapse when he was given out on the fourth ball of the day, lbw to Caddick without adding to his overnight score of 49.

Captain Steve Waugh, whose first innings heroics lifted Australia's hopes of an historic 5-0 series sweep when the top order crumbled earlier in the match, could not conjure up another magic performance, dismissed for just six when he chopped a Caddick delivery onto the stumps.

Damien Martyn added just two runs to his total from yesterday before he was caught behind by Alec Stewart off the bowling of Richard Dawson for 21.

Martin Love could only manage 27 before he was bowled by Steve Harmison.

Adam Gilchrist succumbed when he edged Caddick to Mark Butcher, running to his left from second slip, to be dismissed for 37 as Australia went to lunch at 8-193.

Brett Lee smashed nine fours and a six on his way to 46 but was caught behind by Stewart off Caddick seven overs after the break.

Vaughan won the man of the match award on the strength of his 183 runs in England's second innings and the man of the series award as the highest scorer with 633 runs.