Lyon, Stokes both unsung heroes

ENGLAND unearthed a gem as its Ashes hopes went up in smoke, while Australia might just have discovered that its own precious rock was sitting under its noses the whole time.

Australia might have regained the Ashes after sealing a thumping 150-run victory on Tuesday, but the star of the day was young all-rounder Ben Stokes, who became the first Englishman to make a century in the series after notched his maiden Test ton.

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But the man that removed Stokes, Nathan Lyon, proved once again that he has what it takes to be a mainstay of the Australian Test line-up.

Read on for our review of the best batting and bowling performances of day five.

Can Bat - Ben Stokes (120)

If Monday was Ben Stokes' unveiling, Tuesday was his confirmation as a genuine star of the future.

The 22-year-old resumed batting this morning on 72 n.o. and after taking a while to get his eye in, went back to the methods that served him so well on day four - namely, playing aggressive shots irrespective of who he was facing, and what the pitch was doing.

The 40 minutes he spent in the nervous nineties would have made the boundary that he hit to reach 100 all the sweeter, and his celebration indicated as much.

On a day of misery for English cricket, Stokes provided a rare ray of light.

Ben Stokes raises his bat after reaching his first Test century. Source: News Limited

Can Bowl - Nathan Lyon (3-70)

Australia's off-spinner might just start to get the credit he deserves after his performance in this Test.

No, he's not even in the same stratosphere as Shane Warne, but as far as off-spinners go he's one of the best we've had in a long time.

Lyon proved as much by backing up his dismissal of Kevin Pietersen on day four with the big wicket of Stokes, and then fellow spinner Graeme Swann, on day five.

He copped a bit of stick from Stokes before eventually dismissing him, showing a strength of character that is essential for any slow bowler.

Importantly, he was able to extract impressive amounts of turn on a pace-friendly WACA pitch - albeit helped by the footmarks and cracks - while still bowling with the control required for a Test match.

Tonight's singing of Australia's victory song, 'Under The Southern Cross', will be his sweetest rendition so far.

Nathan Lyon picked up two crucial wickets on day five. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: News Limited

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Ashes: tears of joy, redemption

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BOWLING braveheart Mitch Johnson broke down in tears when the moment finally arrived and Australia reclaimed the Ashes.

Brad Haddin, whose middle order batting was so often the glue through the three Test victories, had the defining line: "We got 'em back" he said, over and over.

Captain Michael Clarke echoed that. "What an amazing performance," Clarke said. "We got 'em back, so it's a fantastic feeling."

Johnson finished with 4-78 and the emotion of a man on course to be player of the series, under the weight of previous Ashes failures, was overwhelming.

Tears before beers for Mitch Johnson. Source: AP

"It was pretty hard running in to bowl, the emotions were flying," Johnson said. "I was just trying to keep them in check. It's an unbelievable feeling.

"I came back from injury and I had a lot of doubters there and I knew that I did all the hard work and I had the opportunity and I've taken it with both hands."

Clarke added: "I don't think it gets much better.

"The team performance throughout the first three matches has been outstanding.

"We've worked hard, and we've got our earned reward.

"We went through what England's going through now not long ago in the UK," Clarke said. "We had a tough time of it in the UK and copped a lot of criticism, but we also had a lot of support. For those people who have stuck by us, thank you!"

Michael Clarke and David Warner of Australia celebrate victory. Source: Getty Images

Ryan Harris was revelling in the moment: "Every single player in this team on the field has done it. It's not just one, it's everyone, and everyone in this dressingroom, in this whole squad, just bloody deserve it. It's great."

George Bailey, who provided one of the series highlights with his world record 28 off the final over of Australia's second innings said he was lucky to be part of the experience.

"It's a bit overwhelming and it's just awesome," said Bailey. "To see the emotion on guys like Hadds and Watto's faces who have played in so many Ashes series and battled away to win their first one... for me to be a part of it is very special, and I feel very fortunate that I'm lucky enough to get that opportunity."

Haddin and Watson spoke of breaking their Ashes ducks.

"I feel relieved," said Haddin. "It's been a long time coming - I've been involved in five Ashes campaigns now, and this is the first time I've been lucky enough to bring the urn home. This is the most amazing feeling I've had in my cricketing career, and you just have to see by the reaction of the changeroom how much it means to everyone."

Watson said: "This is my fourth series now, so I've been on the wrong side of three other series. For us to play the way we have in this series so far, and to be able to win the Ashes by the third Test is something you only ever really imagine."

England captain Alastair Cook, who like Clarke was playing his 100th Test, had to concede Australia was a superior team following wins by 318, 218 and 150 runs.

Cook said the pain of the loss would not be easy to overcome, but urged his side to fight for respect when the Boxing Day Test begins next week.

"Everyone's hurting now. But that happens in sport - you have a winner and a loser, and at the moment, we're on the losing end," he said.

"Yes, the Ashes are gone, and that's going to hurt for a while yet.

"But we have to make sure that we go into (the final two matches) with the right mindset.

"All we can do is work as hard as we can and come out on Boxing Day and put in a better performance."

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Glory show Edwards the door

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RENOWNED youth coach Kenny Lowe is set to take over as coach at Perth Glory for the rest of the season following the sensational departure of Alistair Edwards.

Edwards has been effectively forced out of the club and captain Jacob Burns will lead the team out against Adelaide United on Sunday.

They are the latest developments in the sensational mid-season player revolt against Edwards.

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Edwards refused to comply with a list of demands provided by the club, which wanted to rein in the scope of his power.

CEO Jason Brewer will address the media at 6pm WA time at training.

Lowe, a former assistant coach at Glory under Dave Mitchell, is the head of the successful WA National Training Centre.

The Sunday Times and PerthNow revealed on the weekend that there was a bitter player-driven revolt against Edwards - as distinct to purely a personal feud between coach and captain as portrayed by Edwards - and that it was likely only one of the pair could survive at the club.

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On Tuesday, Burns has emerged as that man after receiving the backing of most of the squad in crisis talks over the past few days and the 35-year-old is set to make a triumphant return to the starting XI against the Reds at nib Stadium.

Glory launched crisis talks on Saturday after players directly challenged Edwards in the team's AAMI Park dressing room following Friday night's 2-0 loss to Melbourne Victory.

Ill feeling had been building for some time before Friday's flashpoint.

Glory players claimed on Saturday that the situation was "an absolute farce'' and that Edwards had "lost almost the entire dressing room''.

The concerns of players revolved around perceived nepotism shown by Edwards, who signed his sons Cameron, 21, and Ryan, 20, before the season, inconsistencies in selection and the coach's man management style.

Some players even believe the tactical balance of Glory's match-day squads this season has been compromised by Edwards' desire to include both of his sons.

The handling of contract negotiations with defender Steve Pantelidis, and his subsequent departure to Malaysia, also angered some players.

Burns was left out of the starting XI and was an unused substitute in Friday night's loss to Victory in one of a number of recent selection decisions that have raised eyebrows.

Ryan Edwards was preferred to Burns in a re-jigged starting formation, while Cameron Edwards was deployed off the bench.

The situation echoes the ugly reign of former coach Steve McMahon, who was sacked in December 2005 amid a similar player backlash.

McMahon signed his son, Stephen McMahon Jr, who was widely viewed to be of less than A-League standard.

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Adelaide thumps Mariners 4-0

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ADELAIDE United defeated Central Coast Mariners 4-0 by mixing its usual tiki-taka game plan which saw the club win just one match this season before Saturday night.

Adelaide steam rolled the reigning champion at Coopers Stadium despite emphatically losing the possession statistic for the first time.

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Melbourne Victory was the only other club which won the possession stakes just - 51 per cent to 49 per cent - during the round two 2-2 draw in front of a record A-League crowd at Hindmarsh (16,504) this season.

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Mariners had 55 per cent of possession on Saturday but the key to the change of style was Adelaide's use of effective long balls forward to split the Mariners defence.

Adelaide captain Eugene Galekovic was the best long ball example when he claimed an assist for a route one clearance which allowed Sergio Cirio to score Adelaide's third goal when he rounded Mariners keeper Liam Reddy before walking the ball into an empty net.

Out of Adelaide's 457 passes compared to Mariners 554 Adelaide used the long ball 17 per cent of the time while Mariners only tried the long ball six per cent of the time.

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But when Mariners' Mitch Duke got behind the Reds defence's high line after just 45 seconds before his opportunity was lost with a heavy touch Adelaide seemingly defended smarter.

And with the Reds defence seemingly dropping deeper than coach Josep Gombau's previous high line Adelaide took command of the clash.

With Reds forwards also dropping off rather than pressing the Mariners four man defence when the away side had the ball deep, the Reds midfield appeared to be much more compact than its previous nine encounters.

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In essence Mariners had fewer holes to exploit which was symptomatic of Adelaide's previous results barring the opening round 3-1 win over Perth Glory.

"The style we played over the last weeks also we played very well but we didn't get theses results,'' Gombau said.

"We have the style we are playing (Saturday) we don't make mistakes but this is football.

"We know the way that we play and we know what we are doing and we are believing in what we are doing and this is important.

"We have this style and we are playing.

"We are playing the way we want to play and we are creating chances every week more and more."

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Live: Clarke puts hapless Poms in

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KEVIN Pietersen threw away any chance of leading a miracle Ashes turnaround after falling victim to Nathan Lyon late on day four of the third Test in Perth.

Pietersen looked set to produce his best knock of the series as England went about chasing a mammoth 504, but holed out to Ryan Harris at long-on for 45 as the tourists plunged to 4-143 at drinks in the final session.

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Ian Bell (15no) and Ben Stokes (17no) remain at the crease as England tries to extend the Test into a fifth day, but it now seems inevitable that Australia will regain the urn.

Earlier, Australia's two top performers of the series so far combined to remove Joe Root shortly before tea, with Brad Haddin taking a stunning diving catch to his right after Mitchell Johnson found the edge.

But it was Shane Watson who was undoubtedly the star of the first two sessions on Day Four, blazing a quick-fire century and then striking with the ball.

Watson trapped Michael Carberry in front to snare an important breakthrough after the opener had combined with Root for a 62-run stand.

England skipper Alastair Cook was not able to provide any sort of resistance at the top of the order in his side's pursuit of a mammoth 504 after being bowled with the first delivery of the innings.

In his 100th Test, Cook was bested by a superb delivery from Harris that came off the seam to clip the top of the off bail.

Cook's brief stay was in direct contrast to Watson's innings earlier in the day, where he blasted five sixes to lift the Aussies to 6-369 before the declaration came.

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Live: Clarke puts hapless Poms in

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KEVIN Pietersen threw away any chance of leading a miracle Ashes turnaround after falling victim to Nathan Lyon late on day four of the third Test in Perth.

Pietersen looked set to produce his best knock of the series as England went about chasing a mammoth 504, but holed out to Ryan Harris at long-on for 45 as the tourists plunged to 4-143 at drinks in the final session.

Ian Bell (15no) and Ben Stokes (17no) remain at the crease as England tries to extend the Test into a fifth day, but it now seems inevitable that Australia will regain the urn.

Click here to see a full scoreboard, ball-by-ball commentary, stats and FoxTracker in our Match Centre.

Earlier, Australia's two top performers of the series so far combined to remove Joe Root shortly before tea, with Brad Haddin taking a stunning diving catch to his right after Mitchell Johnson found the edge.

But it was Shane Watson who was undoubtedly the star of the first two sessions on day four, blazing a quick-fire century and then striking with the ball.

Watson trapped Michael Carberry in front to snare an important breakthrough after the opener had combined with Root for a 62-run stand.

England skipper Alastair Cook was not able to provide any sort of resistance at the top of the order in his side's pursuit of a mammoth 504 after being bowled with the first delivery of the innings.

In his 100th Test, Cook was bested by a superb delivery from Harris that came off the seam to clip the top of the off bail.

Cook's brief stay was in direct contrast to Watson's innings earlier in the day, where he blasted five sixes to lift the Aussies to 6-369 before the declaration came.

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Sydney pile more misery on Aloisi

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HARRY Kewell missed a penalty as Melbourne Heart's winless run continued with a 2-1 loss to Sydney FC.

Alessandro Del Piero put the Sky Blues in front in the 43rd minute at Allianz Stadium while Serbian striker Ranko Despotovic struck just three minutes later on the way to Sydney climbing to third on the ladder.

Harry Kewell had a chance to get one back for the Heart with a second-half penalty but unbelievably sent his shot wide.

Michael Mifsud gave the visitors hope with a goal in the 72nd minute but the Heart couldn't find the equaliser.

Del Piero and Kewell were yet again denied a showdown, missing each other by a matter of minutes when Del Piero was taken off at halftime and Kewell came on in the 56th minute.

Del Piero, who missed last week's loss to Central Coast with a hamstring strain, was said to have been feeling tightness and taken off as a precautionary measure.

What had been shaping as an entertaining clash boasting two big names began as a mundane affair devoid of any intensity and desperately needing something to spark it into life.

That spark finally came in the 42nd minute, courtesy of none other than Del Piero.

The Italian legend easily weaved past two defenders to deliver a superb goal to the delight of most of the 16,008 frustrated fans.

The Sky Blues capitalised on a deflated Heart side to double the advantage just moments later and go to the break 2-0 up.

Despotovic fired his shot low and hard that was too good for the diving Andrew Redmayne who could do nothing to thwart the effort.

The Heart began the second stanza with a sense of urgency, with the likes of Andrea Migliorini, David Williams, Golgol Mebrahtu and Mifsud threatening Sydney keeper Vedran Janjetovic.

And the chances kept coming for the Heart, who were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute when a Nick Kalmar shot came off the hand of Joel Chianese.

Kewell stepped up to the mark but to his own horror and that if his teammates fired it straight into the crowd.

But Mifsud made no mistake moments later when he found himself in plenty of space in front of goal and with Janjetovic off his line easily got one back.

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Live: third Ashes Test, day three

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A SPARKLING century from David Warner in the third Test in Perth lifted Australia to within touching distance of regaining the Ashes urn.

Warner pounded the tourists into submission, flaying the attack to all parts of the ground as he reached 112 before succumbing just after drinks in the final session on day three.

The opener belted 17 fours and a six, leaping into the air after bringing up his second ton of the series with a cut past point.

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He was eventually out skying a ball from Graeme Swann to Ben Stokes at long on, but the damage had well and truly been done.

At 2-183, Australia holds a 317-run lead, with England yet to reach that total in any of its five innings in the series so far.

Warner found a willing ally in Chris Rogers (54) as the home side took delight in punishing England for a string of errors in the field.

Matt Prior endured a horror day behind the stumps, missing two opportunities to stump Warner off Swann's bowling.

Prior was also rooted to the spot when Rogers nicked a ball between keeper and first slip on 26, with Alastair Cook spilling a late one-handed attempt.

England's attack was weakened by the absence of pace spearhead Stuart Broad, who was taken to hospital to have scans on an injured right foot on a horror day for the visitors.

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Bombers face members with no CEO

Essendon say they have resolved the growing impasse over whether they can pay coach James Hird.

ESSENDON will front members at tonight's annual general meeting after the most tumultuous season in the club's history still with no new chief executive two months after Ray Gunston told the club he would not continue in the role.

Club legend Simon Madden will officially join the board at tonight's AGM, after being voted in by members.

FROM THE BACKLINE: ESSENDON

The Herald Sun understands the Bombers are yet to move on to second-round interviews with any of the initial applicants and may consider making an appointment from outside that pool.

Several Bombers candidates have also been mooted for the St Kilda CEO role, with Michael Nettlefold exiting the Saints.

AFL bans Hird from Christmas party

St Kilda is thought to be further along its selection process and its board is due to meet later this week.

Essendon chairman Paul Little told the Herald Sun an appointment could soon be made.

BELOW: EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF TOP BOMBER DRAFT PICK ZACH MERRETT

"We are making good progress with this appointment and look forward to making an announcement very soon," Little said.

Gunston was made interim Bombers chief when Ian Robson quit in May as a casualty of the supplements scandal.

He told the club on October 14 he would not stay.

Gunston has remained in place as the Bombers have searched for a replacement.

Former tennis boss Steve Wood and former Melbourne Storm CEO Ron Gauci were thought to be leading candidates and have also been linked to the St Kilda job.

The Saints' chief operating officer Terry Dillon has also applied at St Kilda.

Essendon has continued to encounter serious off-field dramas since Gunston decided he would not stay.

The club announced a $3.9 million loss for the year ending October 31 - a figure that includes the record $2 million AFL fine over the supplements scandal and almost $2 million more in legal and other consultancy fees.

It was also fined $20,000 - with $10,000 suspended - for having unlisted players train without permission in the lead-up to last month's national draft.

On Friday, Essendon negotiated with the league to pay suspended coach James Hird his entire $1 million 2014 salary up front after a dispute with the league over the terms of Hird's ban.

The settlement has caused much embarrassment to the AFL, but has avoided court action that may have proved costly - and damaging - to all parties.

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Adelaide thumps Mariners 4-0

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ADELAIDE United recorded its second win of the season after belting A-League champion Central Coast Mariners 4-0 at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.

It was also Adelaide's first victory over Mariners since 2009 after the Reds had suffered nine consecutive losses to Central Coast.

And for the first time this season Reds skipper Eugene Galekovic kept a clean sheet.

Bruce Djite scored his first goal since February 3 this year to set Adelaide on its way in 25th minute of the first half before Fabio Ferreira made it 2-0 five minutes before the break.

Sergio Cirio embarrassed the Mariners nine minutes after half time when he chased down a ball which gloveman Liam Reddy tried to police out of play.

With the benefit of doubt - the ball appeared to be out of play - Cirio snuck the ball in between Reddy's legs before poking the leather into an empty net.

Substitute Jeronimo Neumann made it 4-0 a minute before time when he beat the Mariners offside trap before cooly slotting the ball home from 12m.

And Adelaide - in a first for the season - used a cautious approach and locked down the game after Cirio scored the club's third and played the counter attacking game for Neumann's fourth goal of the season.

Cirio created Djite's first goal of the season when he found space on the left flank stormed past Mariners defender Storm Roux before the Reds striker's deft touch was enough to send the ball into the back of the net.

Cirio was again the provider for Ferreira's goal when the Portuguese finally found his range when he slammed the ball between Reddy's legs.

But Ferreira succumbed to a groin injury and was replaced by Neumann during the break.

Neumann was on the pitch for less than 90 seconds when he forced Reddy off his line with the gloveman's decision good enough to break up the attack after Cirio again sped past the Mariners last lines.

But it was evident Adelaide had changed its usual possession based game plan to one which was varied between tiki-taka and long range passing.

Mariners, however, fired the first Reds scare of the clash when Mitch Duke broke the Reds high defensive line but could not do much more with the ball as the fringe Socceroo charged into the box after just 45 seconds.

But Adelaide weren't rattled and continued to work on a new game plan as it sat off the Mariners defensive back four before applying a press in midfield.

Adelaide, however, managed to survive a myriad of botched Mariners golden chances to take the lead with the first opportunity arriving after seven minutes.

Michael McGlinchey's cross from a short corner eluded Reds defender Michael Zullo before Mariners defender Trent Sainsbury's misdirected volley fell at the feet of Daniel McBreen.

With the goal at his mercy McBreen blasted the ball over the bar from 5m.

A minute later Ferreira failed to get a shot on target after a perfect Marcelo Carrusca through ball and with just Reddy to beat the Portuguese hit the side netting.

But the nature of Adelaide's open game still allowed Mariners to have pop shots.

Duke's 8m shot stung the head of Osama Malik when Josh Rose became the provider in the 10th minute before the forward had another chance on target five minutes later when Marcos Flores found an opening on the right flank.

Ferreira then created a great opportunity when he twisted and turned, fired a 20m shot over the bar in the 15th minute before the Portuguese again found space when Carrusca fed yet another glorious through ball in the 18th minute.

But in the one-on-one situation Reddy again won the battle before Cirio forced the former SA-based SASI keeper into a save in the 22nd minute.

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