Having been on the end of two crushing defeats already, England were desperate to avoid another, in the third Test, in Sydney.
Having won the toss, Australia batted first for the first time in the series, and piled on the runs. Greg Matthews led the way with 128, but David Boon made 97, captain Allan Border 78 and Dean Jones 60 out of a total of 518.
For once on the tour, though, the England batters stood up to the pressure. Mike Atherton and David Gower both made centuries and Alec Stewart 91, enabling them to declare on 469/8.
The second time round Australia were all out for 205, despite 69 from wicketkeeper Ian Healy, Phil Tufnell taking 5-61.
England were set 265 to win, but time ran out on the game with them 113/4 in their second innings.
Honours were also even after the fourth Test, in Adelaide. Again, Australia batted first, and owed a debt of thanks to Mark Waugh (138) and Matthews (65), as they made 386,.
Craig McDermott then took 5-97 with the ball as England were dismissed for 229, despite 87 from captain Graham Gooch and a half century from Robin Smith.
Australia then scored well in their second innings, led by Boon’s 121 and Border’s 83, enabling them to declare on 314/6. England, however, at least had the satisfaction of saving the game, reaching 335/5 in their second innings, the opening pair of Gooch and Atherton sharing a stand of 203. Gooch made 117, and Atherton 87.
The Ashes and the series had gone by this time, but there was still time for Australia to underline their dominance with another crushing victory in the fifth Test, in Perth.
England won the toss and batted first. Allan Lamb, back to full fitness, top-scoring with 91, while Smith made 58, out of a total of 244, McDermott claiming 8-97 with the ball.
In reply, Australia made 307, Boon making 64 and Matthews an unbeaten 60.
The Australian pace bowlers then restricted England to just 182 second time round, meaning their batters needed just 120 to win, a total they reached for the loss of just one wicket.