The Australian team celebrates winning the Ashes

England have lost the Ashes (a series of cricket matches) in Perth, Australia. The Australians won the match by 206 runs for a 3-0 lead in the series. This report from Nick Bryant

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This was one of the most eagerly anticipated series in the history of the fabled contest but it turned out to be a one-sided affair, Australia securing three wins from the first three matches to take back the Ashes which they've held for sixteen of the past seventeen years.

England missed key players through injury, lacked adequate preparation and were unable to match Australia's skill, mental fortitude or desire. Ricky Ponting's men made regaining the Ashes a matter of personal and national pride. They refused to countenance defeat even at the occasional times when England appeared to be on top.

So the Ashes are back in Australian hands. Here at the WACA we've witnessed the restoration of cricket's status quo.

Nick Bryant, BBC

Listen to the words

relinquished
gave up something that they wanted to keep

fabled contest
a very famous competition or game, a competition or game that lots of people talk about

a one-sided affair
a game or competition where one team or side played much better than the other team or side

key players
the most important people in the team

mental fortitude
here, a strong belief that they would not lose

a matter of personal and national pride
the most important thing that they could do for themselves and their country

to be on top
to be in control, to be winning

status quo
the usual or typical situation (in this case, the usual situation is that the Australian Cricket team keeps the Ashes because they always win)

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