England were on the receiving end of two heavy defeats, and things did not improve in the third Test match, in Perth. For the third consecutive time they won the toss and batted. But, despite Robert Key making 47, they were all out for just 185, the Australian bowlers sharing the wickets among themselves.
Australia then effectively batted them out of the game by scoring 456. Damien Martyn top-scored with 71, while Ricky Ponting scored 68 and captain Steve Waugh 53.
England needed 271 just to make Australia bat again, but they failed to manage that, despite an unbeaten 66 from Alec Stewart and 61 from Nasser Hussain. They were bowled out for 223, losing by an innings and 48 runs.
Australia then made it four of four in the fourth Test, at the MCG in Melbourne.
This time they won the toss and batted, and heaped misery on England by making 551/6 before declaring. Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden put on 195 for the first wicket. After Hayden fell for 102, Langer went on to make 250. Steve Waugh also scored 77 and Marin Love an unbeaten 62.
In reply, Craig White made an undefeated 85, but a weary England were still bowled out for 270, Jason Gillespie taking 4-25.
Australia enforced the follow on, and England did much better second time round, led by Michael Vaughan’s 145, and 52 from Rob Key. They helped England close on 367, meaning Australia needed 107 to win. They made heavy weather of it, losing five wickets in the process, but they still had taken a four-love lead in the series.
One feature of England in their unsuccessful Ashes campaigns was their ability to conjure up a win when it was of academic interest. And, so it proved this time, at the fifth Test, in Sydney.
Winning the toss and batting, they made 362, Mark Butcher leading the way with 124, while his captain Nasser Hussain got 75. Australia virtually matched them by scoring 363 in their first innings, Mark Waugh scoring 102 and Adam Gilchrist 133 off just 121 balls.
However, Vaughan than made 183, and with Hussain making 72 this time, England were able to declare on 452/9, setting Australia 452 to win.
For once, the task proved beyond them and they were all out for 226, with Andy Caddick claiming 7-94.
England had won by 225 runs, but Australia had won the series by four matches to one.