SIMON JONES and Ashley Giles bowled England into a strong position at stumps on the second day of the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford yesterday.

BRETT LEE took two late wickets to remove some of the shine from England captain Michael Vaughan’s 166, the first century of this Ashes series, on the first day of the third Test at Old Trafford yesterday.

ENGLAND responded to the partisan atmosphere of Edgbaston by exploiting Australia’s injury-hit attack and dominating a dramatic opening day to the crucial second Ashes Test yesterday.

GLENN MCGRATH’S superb spell of four wickets for three runs in 23 balls saw Australia beat England by 239 runs to win the first Ashes Test with more than a day to spare at Lord’s.

Brad Hogg claimed three crucial wickets as Australia took command of their World Cup Pool A match with Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Mark Butcher marked his 50th Test for England with a determined century today after he battled through an uncertain start to his innings in the final Test against a new look Australian line-up at the SCG.

ALTHOUGH Michael Vaughan was understandably delighted to finish the year on a high with his sixth century to help England record their highest total of the series of 387, once again his efforts were not enough to influence the result against a powerful Australian side.

ENGLAND’S Barmy Army have been branded a disgrace after playing an unwitting role in inspiring Brett Lee’s most hostile spell of the series and plunging the tourists further into trouble in the fourth Test.

ENGLAND’S Ashes dream was spectacularly ended in only 25 days with fiery fast bowler Brett Lee ruthlessly completing another emphatic Test and series defeat with a hostile new ball spell at the WACA.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN benefited from the hard nosed approach of modern cricket to continue his prolific year for England and provide Australian audiences with evidence of real competition during the remainder of the Ashes series.