Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson again found the WACA a happy hunting ground to inspire the hosts to a 57-run victory and a 6-1 series hammering of England in the seventh and final one day international on Sunday.
Johnson, who fired Australia to their only Ashes Test win on the same ground, ripped the heart out of the England batting with the key wickets of Jonathan Trott (14), Kevin Pietersen (26) and Ian Bell (8) as the tourists chased 280 for victory.
England, who arrived in Perth for the Ashes tour on Oct. 30, looked like a team at the end of a long, gruelling summer and, despite a bright unbeaten 60 from Michael Yardy, laboured to 222 all out in 44 overs.
The tourists were already struggling by the time Johnson hit his stride with Andrew Strauss finishing his last match against Australia on this tour as he started the first -- with dismissal for a duck in the opening over of his team's innings.
Shaun Tait took away the top of the England skipper's off stump with a fizzing second ball, a delivery fewer than it took Ben Hilfenhaus to dismiss Strauss in the first Ashes test at the Gabba. Steven Davies, who had been ommitted from the squad, failed to embarrass the selectors by following his skipper to the changing room with a six-ball duck in the next over. Johnson then took charge with his impressive 3-18, while Tait chimed in with 3-48 and spinner Jason Krejza did his World Cup hopes no harm with 2-53.
{{/usCountry}}Shaun Tait took away the top of the England skipper's off stump with a fizzing second ball, a delivery fewer than it took Ben Hilfenhaus to dismiss Strauss in the first Ashes test at the Gabba. Steven Davies, who had been ommitted from the squad, failed to embarrass the selectors by following his skipper to the changing room with a six-ball duck in the next over. Johnson then took charge with his impressive 3-18, while Tait chimed in with 3-48 and spinner Jason Krejza did his World Cup hopes no harm with 2-53.
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