2015 Ashes story so far

Nottingham: England`s stunning innings and 78-run win against Australia in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge saw them take an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match Ashes campaign.

Here AFP Sport looks at the story of the series so far:
July 08-11

1st Test, Cardiff

England won by 169 runs

Joe Root, in with England struggling at 43 for three, is dropped on nought by Australia wicket-keeper Brad Haddin and goes on to make 134 in a first-innings total of 430.

Root also makes a valuable 60 in the second innings as England leave Australia with a stiff chase of 412 for victory.

It proved beyond the tourists, with Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali sharing six wickets between them as England win with more than a day to spare.
July 16-19

2nd Test, Lord`s

Australia won by 405 runs

Another four-day finish sees Australia utterly dominant, with Steven Smith (215) and Chris Rogers (173) both making their Test-best scores in a huge first-innings total of 566 for eight declared.

England`s alleged plan to prepare lifeless pitches in a bid to negate Australia`s quicks proves futile as they are dismissed for 312 in reply.

Worse follows when, having been set a mammoth 509 for victory, England are skittled out for just 103 in 37 overs as left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson lets rip.
July 29-31

3rd Test, Edgbaston

England won by 8 wickets

After two four-day Tests comes a match that is all over inside three.

Australia captain Michael Clarke opts to bat first on a classic seaming pitch in overcast conditions and sees his side shot out for 136 as James Anderson, wicketless at Lord`s, takes an Ashes-best six for 47.

The tourists fare better in their second innings but recalled fast bowler Steven Finn takes a Test-best six for 79 before Ian Bell, on his Warwickshire home ground, leads England to a modest target of 121 with his second fifty of the match.
Aug 06-08

4th Test, Trent Bridge

Stuart Broad takes a staggering eight for 15, including his 300th Test wicket with the third ball of the match, as Australia are dismissed for just 60 in 18.3 overs -- the shortest completed first innings in Test history -- despite Anderson being out with a side injury, after England captain Alastair Cook wins the toss in overcast, but not `unplayable` conditions.

England pile up 391 for nine declared in reply with Root (130) scoring his second hundred of the series.

All-rounder Ben Stokes (six for 36) then becomes the fourth England bowler in as many innings to take six wickets before Durham team-mate Mark Wood has Nathan Lyon playing on in the final act of England`s second successive win inside three days.To play:

Aug 20-24: 5th Test, The Oval
Ashes 2015 by the numbers:

Leading run-makers

England - Joe Root (443)

Australia - Chris Rogers (437)
Leading wicket-takers

England - Stuart Broad (21)

Australia - Mitchell Starc (18)
Best batting performance

England: Joe Root (134, Cardiff)

Australia: Steven Smith (215, Lord`s)
Best bowling

England: Stuart Broad (8-15, Trent Bridge)

Australia: Mitchell Starc (6-111, Trent Bridge)