At stumps on day four, the Test was on a knives edge with either side still in for a shout to win the match.

England needed just 178 runs to level the series, while the hosts in their turn needed six wickets to go 2-0 up.

The paceman, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazelwood ripped through the English batting order on the final day of the first-ever day-night Ashes Test.

The English captain, Joe Root, was the visitor’s main hope of winning the Test and with his overnight score on 67* he was in a good position to play an all-important captain’s knock.

However, Hazelwood, had over ideas and had the skipper caught-behind in the third over of the day without adding to his over-night score. The first wicket of the day also belong to Hazelwood, when he also had Chris Woakes caught-behind for 5 runs off just the second ball of the day. Woakes also failed to add to his over-night score.

Starc did the mopping up work and claimed the scalps of Craig Overton, Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow to return figures of 88/5.

Shaun Marsh was named as the man of the match for his unbeaten 126 runs during the Australian first innings.

England, who are the title holders now face the possibility of relinquishing the Ashes to the Baggy Greens during next third Test in Perth on 14 December.

England has not been able to win a Test at the WACA since 1978.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport