Swann crushes Aussies’ hopes

Graeme Swann struck in the nick of time to complete England’s 347-run victory inside four days, and ensure they moved 2-0 up in the Ashes series without the hassle of any unfinished business at Lord’s today.

Australia’s last pair of Ryan Harris and James Pattinson took their hosts to within three deliveries of having to return to complete a final-day formality in the second Test.

Instead, after Joe Root had added two telling wickets to his 180 runs, England are already within one more Test success of winning the Ashes next month for a third consecutive time.

Australia, set a mammoth world-record 583 to win, always appeared certain losers at some stage — especially after three wickets went for 12 runs before lunch and three more for just two on the stroke of tea.

But numbers 10 and 11, stubborn in the extreme after 30 runs had also been added for the ninth wicket, defied England for more than an hour and 14 overs until Pattinson was lbw on the back-foot defence to become Swann’s ninth wicket of the match, as Australia were dismissed for 235.

England captain Alastair Cook was also full of praise for Root’s “fantastic” century, while insisting there is still plenty more to come from the young opener.

“It was a great knock,” he said.

“He was under pressure in that second innings. Obviously he’s had a bit of success at number five and it’s slightly different at the top of the order, but we all know what a great player he is. He’s still got a huge amount of work to do but he’s the right character at the top of the order and it was a fantastic knock.”

Despite going 2-0 down, Australia captain Michael Clarke refused to give up hope.

“It was certainly not the performance we were after but we’ve got some time now to make amends, I guess,” he said. “We’ll continue to work hard in the nets and try and get right for Manchester. We know we’ve got to win the next three Tests to win this series so it’s very clear for us now.”

Asked if he thought that was a realistic target, Clarke added: “Of course it is. I think it’s going to be hard, there’s no doubt about it, but I’d be silly to go into Manchester expecting to lose. Take nothing away from England, they outperformed us again.”