Marsh strikes as England crash in Ashes finale

Mitchell Marsh took his best figures in Test cricket as Australia's push for a consolation win in the Ashes finale saw England suffer a severe collapse at The Oval today.
At stumps on the second day of the fifth Test, England had slumped to 107 for eight in reply to Australia's first innings 481 -- a deficit of 374 runs.
All-rounder Marsh, recalled in place of older brother Shaun, a specialist batsman, took three wickets for 18 runs in seven overs -- surpassing his two for 23 in Australia's 405-run win in the second Test at Lord's.
Meanwhile fast-medium bowler Peter Siddle, playing his first Test since facing India at Adelaide in December after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out through injury, had two for 18 in 10.

England, with Moeen Ali and Mark Wood both eight not out, still needed a further 175 runs to avoid the follow-on, with just two wickets standing.
Fortunately for England they were already 3-1 up in the five-match series and this top order implosion was not as bad as Australia's 60 all out in the first innings of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge -- where Stuart Broad's return of eight for 15 laid the platform for an innings and 78 run-win that saw England regain the Ashes.

But there was no denying Australia's dominance with both bat and ball so far in this match after captain-in-waiting Steven Smith had scored 143 earlier today.

England's reply suffered an early setback when skipper Alastair Cook was bowled for 22 on the stroke of tea by a fine delivery from off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Bowling from round the wicket, Lyon got the ball to pitch on middle-and-leg before it turned past left-hander Cook's outside edge to clip off stump.
Adam Lyth desperately needed a big innings to cement his place after a run of low scores.
But on 19 he donated his wicket when, off Siddle's second-ball loosener, the left-hander pulled to Mitchell Starc, running round from mid-on.