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Michael Clarke couldn’t imagine his international swansong going any better, having signed off with an innings and 46-run victory in the fifth Ashes Test.
Rain provided more resistance than England on day four, when Clarke and Chris Rogers were sent out emphatic – yet consolatory – winners at The Oval.
Almost three hours of play was lost on Sunday due to heavy showers, but it only delayed the inevitable.
England resumed at 6-203, needing a further 129 runs to make the tourists bat again.
They were 8-258 at 12.16pm when the covers came on.
Peter Siddle wasted little time when the second session started at 3pm, removing Stuart Broad’s off stump with his second delivery after the break.
Siddle then dismissed Moeen Ali caught behind as England were rolled for 286, but more importantly won the five-Test series 3-2.
Clarke was given a guard of honour by his teammates at the end of play and received yet another standing ovation.
“Chris and I are sick of the attention,” Clarke said, having announced his retirement after Australia were skittled for 60 and ceded the urn at Trent Bridge.
“Both Chris and I made it very clear to the boys at the start of the Test that it isn’t about us.
“I don’t think it could have gone any better. It’s a great reward for the hard work we’ve put in on the tour.
Clarke denied there was a sense of remorse about his final series.
“I don’t think regret is the right word. There’s disappointment after we lost the series,” he said.
Clarke couldn’t sign off in style with the bat.
He scored 15 in a total of 481 that was dominated by a century from Steve Smith, his successor as skipper named man of the match.
Clarke’s captaincy, however, remained as strong as ever, highlighted by the fact the 34-year-old enforced the follow-on for the first time in his career.
None of the one-sided games in the series have gone the distance, there has been a combined total of 18 days of play.
No five-Test series between the two nations has been over so quickly.
It could have been even shorter, Australia were lucky to take the third and fourth Tests to a third day after embarrassing collapses.
“It’s an amazing achievement to beat this Australia side, so it has to rank right up there,” England captain Alastair Cook said.
“It’s been strange at times … but very pleasing.”
Locals hoping for a rearguard to remember on Sunday went home disappointed.
Clarke handed the second new ball to Siddle ahead of Mitchell Starc and it paid big dividends.
Siddle, recalled after almost nine months in the Test wilderness, started with his 11th maiden and struck in the fifth over of the day.
Clarke had a hand in the lbw dismissal of nightwatchman Mark Wood, successfully reviewing Kumar Dharmasena’s not-out verdict.
Siddle’s immaculate control made him Australia’s standout bowler, the Victorian finishing with figures of 4-35 from 24.4 overs in the second dig.
Allrounder Mitch Marsh came into the attack before Starc in another surprising, but productive move from Clarke.
Marsh removed Jos Buttler in his second over of the day, the keeper spooning a low catch to Starc at mid-off.
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