Australia claimed a consolatory win, but Joe Root was the hero of the series and made runs when it mattered most 

  • Australia claimed victory in the fifth Test at The Oval, but England won the Ashes series 3-2 overall, banishing the demons of the World Cup
  • Joe Root's batting throughout the series was a particular highlight
  • Mitchell Johnson's dismissal of Ben Stokes in the third Test at Edbgaston was the best show of bowling in the series
  • Australia's decision not to use ultra-accurate Peter Siddle until the final Test will have left plenty of fans scratching their heads  

Australia completed a comprehensive victory in the fifth Test at The Oval, but England claimed the Ashes series 3-2 overall.   

The tourists took England's four remaining second-innings wickets either side of a three-hour rain delay to win by an innings and 46 runs in Kennington.

The fifth Test aside, however, England's Ashes success is a far cry from the disaster that was their World Cup campaign. Here, Sportsmail's Lawrence Booth takes us through all the stats, facts and key moments from a memorable series.  

 

Shot of the series

Take your pick from any of Joe Root's back-foot forces through point, or Moeen Ali's dreamy square-drives. Root was like the best of Mike Atherton; Ali was David Gower. 

England batsman Moeen Ali hits out during day four of the fifth Test at The Oval in Kennington 

England batsman Moeen Ali hits out during day four of the fifth Test at The Oval in Kennington 

Ball of the series

Mitchell Johnson very briefly wound the clock back to 2013-14 when he had Jonny Bairstow flinching for his life early on the second day at Edgbaston. Two balls later, he produced a replica to see off Ben Stokes. Mercifully for England, the clock soon returned to 2015.

Australia's fast bowler Mitchell Johnson bowls during day three of the fifth Test at The Oval 

Australia's fast bowler Mitchell Johnson bowls during day three of the fifth Test at The Oval 

Moment of the series

When Stokes flung himself to his right at fifth slip on that remarkable first morning at Trent Bridge, Adam Lyth at fourth assumed the ball had gone past him and turned towards third man to collect it. But Stokes clung on to Adam Voges's edge, Australia were 21 for five and the look of incredulity on Stuart Broad's face spoke for a nation.

Hero of the series

While middle-order batsmen on both sides struggled, Joe Root made runs when it mattered. In the three Tests England won, he managed 425 runs at 106 (compared with 35 runs at 8.75 in the two games they lost). And his overall series average of 57 was more than 20 higher than England's next best – Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali, both on 36. 

Joe Root, a standout performer for England throughout the series, poses with the Ashes urn  

Joe Root, a standout performer for England throughout the series, poses with the Ashes urn  

Villains of the series

The Australian selectors made one blunder after another. If the decisions to drop Shane Watson and Brad Haddin were debatable, then it was bizarre to leave out Mitchell Marsh for his brother Shaun at Trent Bridge. And why was the ultra-accurate Peter Siddle not chosen until the fifth Test?

Peter Siddle celebrates dismissing Ali during day four of the fifth Test of the Ashes series 

Peter Siddle celebrates dismissing Ali during day four of the fifth Test of the Ashes series 

England batsman Stuart Broad sees his wicket taken by Siddle during the fifth Test in Kennington

England batsman Stuart Broad sees his wicket taken by Siddle during the fifth Test in Kennington

Stats

England's most productive partnership of the series could not have been predicted in advance. Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad put on 270 together at an average of 38, with the 246 managed by Ian Bell and Joe Root a long way back in second.

Australia may be feeling short-changed. They scored more runs than England (by 2,565 to 2,365) and took one more wicket (71 to 70), but still ended up losing their fourth successive series in this country.

Root (left) and Ian Bell (right) celebrate with their winners' medals after England claim the 2015 Ashes 

Root (left) and Ian Bell (right) celebrate with their winners' medals after England claim the 2015 Ashes 

On the other hand, too many of Australia's middle order failed to back up the good work done by their top three of Chris Rogers, David Warner and Steve Smith. Adam Voges averaged 28, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill 23, Michael Clarke 16 and Mitchell Marsh 12.

England went into the final Test hoping to make history, having never before won four matches in a home series against Australia. Instead, they made history of a different kind: this was their first 3-2 Ashes win at home. They have won 3-2 in Australia on three occasions, the most recent being 1903-04. 

Bell hits out during day three of the fifth Test and is almost caught by Chris Rogers (not pictured)

Bell hits out during day three of the fifth Test and is almost caught by Chris Rogers (not pictured)

 

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