England regain the Ashes

Durham pacemen Mark Wood and Ben Stokes set the seal on a crushing innings and 78-run victory over Australia in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday as England regained the Ashes in style.

Australia started the day on 241 for seven, 90 runs shy of making England bat again.

But they lost their last three wickets in just 40 minutes' play, with all-rounder Stokes, who'd taken five wickets on Friday, striking again on his way to Test-best figures of six for 36.

Fast bowler Wood ended the match when he had Nathan Lyon playing on as the number eleven tried to withdraw his bat.

Victory gave Alastair Cook's men an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series as, for the second match in a row, they defeated arch-rivals Australia inside three days following their eight-wicket win in the third Test at Edgbaston last week.

It was also the first time this year that England, whitewashed 5-0 in Australia in 2013/14, had won back-to-back Tests.

Australia were in trouble right from the start of this match as they collapsed to 60 all out in 111 balls -- the shortest completed first innings in Test history -- on Thursday's first day.

Man-of-the-match Stuart Broad, who took two wickets in the first over of the match, including his 300th at this level, finished with a Test-best return of eight for 15.

"I didn't think we were quite ready to win the Ashes at the beginning," said England captain Cook at the presentation ceremony. "I thought you needed a group of players who were match-hardened."

"We have won really critical moments and the players have really stepped up which shouldn't surprise me but it has," added Cook.

"For what we've been through over the last 18 months, to play like we did has been fantastic. I'm so proud of this young team."

Australian Trevor Bayliss, who took over as England coach shortly before this series, has been widely praised for his role.

But Cook acknowledged the role of Bayliss's sacked predecessor, Peter Moores, by saying: "A lot has happened behind the scenes, and we need to thank Peter Moores -- we did make some strides under Mooresy. This is for you, Peter."

This win was particularly impressive as England were without James Anderson after their all-time leading wicket-taker suffered a side injury at Edgbaston.

England, in reply to Australia's meagre first innings, made 391 for nine declared, Joe Root top-scoring with 130, on Friday.

Australia captain Michael Clarke said: "Our goal was to come here and try and have some success.

"Alastair Cook and the England team deserve a lot of credit -- they've shown us how to execute good swing and seam bowling," added Clarke, on the losing side for a fourth successive Ashes series in England.

"It's not for want of trying but the boys have been beaten by a better side..

“England when they've had momentum have grabbed it with both hands and ran with it.”

SCORES IN BRIEF

AUSTRALIA: First innings 60

ENGLAND: First innings 391 for 9 declared

AUSTRALIA: Second innings 253 (Rogers 52, Warner 64, Voges 51 not out, extras 40; Broad 1-36, Wood 3-69, Stokes 6-36)

Result: England won by an innings and 78 runs to take 3-1 winning lead in the 5-Test series.

Play-of-the-match: Stuart Broad.

Fifth & final Test: August 20-24, The Oval.