Stuart Broad sparks Australia collapse

LONDON: Stuart Broad revived England's hopes of Ashes glory with a sensational five-wicket burst on the second day of the decisive fifth Test at the Oval here on Friday.

Australia at tea were 133 for eight in reply to England's first innings 332 - a deficit of 199 runs - after Broad had taken five wickets for 19 runs in 47 balls to remove Shane Watson, skipper Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann chipped in with three wickets for 11 runs in 27 balls, including opener Simon Katich for 50.

In total Australia - who had been 73 without loss - lost eight wickets for 58 runs in an extraordinary second session.

Peter Siddle was 10 not out and fellow tailender Stuart Clark one not out at tea with Broad boasting figures of five wickets for 37 runs in 12 overs.

There was little hint that Broad, often lauded more for his lower-order batting than his bowling, was about to wreak such havoc upon the Australia top-order in a match England, with the series all square at 1-1, had to win to regain the Ashes and one which the visitors needed only to draw to retain them.

Broad was the fifth bowler summoned by England captain Andrew Strauss after the likes of James Anderson, Andrew Flintoff and Stephen Harmison had all gone wicketless on a pitch where Swann had extracted turn.

Australia were 66 without loss off 22 overs when the 6ft 6in Broad came on for the first full over after rain had delayed play after lunch by 50 minutes.

Broad struck with his sixth ball when Watson, who'd added just four runs to his lunch score of 30, was lbw to a Broad delivery that him in line.

It was the first time Watson had failed to reach fifty this series since being recalled in place of the dropped Phillip Hughes for the drawn third Test at Edgbaston.

Broad then saw Australia captain Ponting get off the mark against him with a lucky inside-edge for four.

But the 23-year-old captured the prize wicket of the star batsman, who made just eight, when Ponting played onto a full length ball.

Left-hander Hussey was then undone by an inswinger that pitched in line and was lbw for nought.

Australia vice-captain Clarke, the leading batsman in either team this Ashes, had been a thorn in England's side all series with 445 runs, including two hundreds at an average of 89, before this match.

However, he could only manage three on Friday before he was well caught off Broad by debutant Jonathan Trott at short extra-cover.

Australia were now 93 for four and their collapse continued when Marcus North was lbw to Swann for eight.

No sooner had left-handed opener Katich completed a 106-ball fifty, he gave a bat-pad catch off Swann to Alastair Cook at short leg.

Broad then claimed the third five-wicket haul of his 22-Test career when he bowled Haddin with a beauty that hit the middle and off stumps.

The son of former England opener Chris, Broad had already had a decent day with the bat before he was last man out for 37.

Mitchell Johnson fell next, well caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior off Swann before Australia made sure they at least avoided the follow-on.

Flintoff, controversially left out of the side that lost the fourth Test by an innings and 80 runs at Headingley because of fears his suspect right knee would not stand the strain of fast bowling, showed no discomfort after being handed the new ball in what was his final Test before an injury-induced retirement.