Sport 28-08-2001 Aussies Put Us Out Of Our Misery who: England cricket team what: Lose fifth and final npower Ashes Test where: The Oval, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "It ended much as it began, with England once again on the receiving end of a thorough and professional drubbing," says The Independent`s Derek Pringle at The Oval after England lost the last of five Ashes Tests yesterday by an innings and 25 runs. "There have been moments when we`ve fought and battled but we haven`t been able to match up to them. We weren`t even close," admits injured skipper Nasser Hussain in The Sun. "For us, it was a case of deja vu; we only started playing some cricket when we were 3-0 down. It was like Groundhog Day, to be honest." "For souvenirs, England can cling only to Mark Butcher`s century at Headingley, Mark Ramprakash`s 133 in this match and an hour at Trent Bridge when Andy Caddick and Alex Tudor ran amok," says The Mirror as the series ended 4-1 to a team which has won 20 out of their last 23 Tests. "But the rest was virtually one-way traffic. Without rain and Adam Gilchrist`s arrogant declaration at Leeds, it could have been 5-0." In related news, Mike Atherton is expected to confirm his retirement from England cricket today while Darren Gough and Alec Stewart have decided to exclude themselves from the winter tour squads. [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!