Australia’s Ashes chances dampen with England cleansweep

Not since 1987 have England had it over Australia in all forms of cricket, writes AAP’s Daniel Brettig. He says at this rate, a repeat of that darkest summer 23 years ago is starting to become a distinct possibility.

Whether limited overs matches in England can have much empirical bearing on an Ashes series in Australia remains a matter for conjecture. Nonetheless, there is no doubt Ricky Ponting's tourists have fallen prey to the sort of patterns that can only raise English chances of retaining the urn they won at the Oval in 2009.