On this day in 2010: England reclaim the Ashes with a grand victory in Melbourne

England retained the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years on this day in 2010, after inflicting one of Australia’s heaviest losses – a margin of an innings and 157 runs on the fourth morning of the fourth Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. In front of a crowd of nearly 90,000, Australia tumbled out for 98 after Andrew Strauss had put the hosts into bat.

It took Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, and Tim Bresnan less than two sessions to run through the order as they continuously bowled the testing lines. Chris Tremlett and James Anderson collected four wickets each, before the skipper Strauss and Alastair Cook showed that with discipline, batting was not as hard as the hosts showed it to be. The day could not possibly have ended better for England, who finished at 157 for no loss with Strauss and Cook unbeaten on 64 and 80, respectively.

England continued their dominant show on Day 2 as well, as Jonathon Trott came to the crease and lasted the entire day to finish 141 not out and lead England, with the help of Matt Prior (75 not out), to 444 for 5, at stumps. Earlier in the day, Cook (82) and Strauss (69) failed to add much to their overnight scores, however, Trott’s century had put the visitors in command.

#OnThisDay in 2010…?

England performed the sprinkler for @TheBarmyArmy at the MCG after winning the fourth Ashes Test and reclaiming the urn. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/S5pJ8xPI1O

— The Cricket Pavilion (@CrickPavilion) December 29, 2017

Resuming the next day, Trott (168*) went on to bat long as the Australian bowlers grabbed wickets quickly from the other end. A spectacular 6-wicket haul for Peter Siddle, who alongside Ben Hilfenhaus ran through the lower-order of England on the morning of Day 3, was the highlight for the Aussies, who dismissed England for 513. Trailing by over 400 runs, Australians were soon pushed into a spot of bother after some resistance from Shane Watson at the top.

Disaster struck when Australia lost half-centurion Watson, who was undone by Tim Bresnan, as the bowler trapped him LBW. Wickets fell in heaps as Australia lost Ricky Ponting and Micheal Clarke in quick succession. The tumbling, however, was ceased by Steve Smith for a brief while as he bided time in the middle before being cleaned up by James Anderson.

There was some fight from Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle too, who piled up an 86-run partnership after the loss of Mitchell Johnson, but it was only a matter of time for England. It took less than an hour and a half for them to dismiss the last three wickets needed for victory. As the last wicket fell, the entire unit of England huddled in the joy of regaining the mighty Ashes.