AUSTRALIA: Fans react to Australia's Ashes victory over England.

Fans in Sydney gathered at a park near the famous Opera House on Monday (December 18) to follow Australia defeat England by 206 runs to win the third test in Perth and regain the Ashes after taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Australia wrapped up victory on the second ball after lunch on the final day when Shane Warne bowled Monty Panesar for one as England collapsed to be all out for 350 after resuming on 265 for five. "Magnifico, magnificient, tremendous. How many adjectives do you need? Very convincing, we kicked the shit out of the pommies, we kick the shit out of them," said an experienced fan with a strong Scottish accent, happy with England's defeat. The English contingent which travelled a long way to follow the fortunes of their team insisted there was still some pride to play for. "England might do a little bit to keep the games alive for the rest of the series but it's been a good series so far and still have two tests to go," said another fan. Australia set England a target of 557 to win the match but the tourists' only real hope of keeping the series alive was to bat through the last day and salvage a draw after losing the first test in Brisbane by 277 runs and the second in Adelaide by six wickets. England beat Australia 2-1 at home last year but handed the urn straight back after just 15 months -- the shortest reign in the 124-year history of the Ashes.

ITN Source | December 19, 2006

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