2017 Ashes: Australia clinch 3-0 series victory at Perth

Australia reclaimed the Ashes urn on Monday with victory by an innings and 41 runs in the third Test match against England at the WACA Ground in Perth. After comprehensive wins at Brisbane and Adelaide, Australia has clinched an unassailable 3-0 series lead with the 2017 Ashes culminating at Melbourne and Sydney.

England entered the final day's play at 132/4, needing 127 runs to make Australia bat again. With rain and damn pitch conditions costing Australia a session, there was hope for England to enforce a draw. However, Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood dismissed Jonny Bairstow (14) off his very first delivery and the home team was en route to regaining the Ashes. Hazlewood finished with figures of 5/48 while Pat Cummins (2/53) and Nathan Lyon (2/42) chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Australia captain Steve Smith was awarded the Man of the Match for his career-best knock of 239 in the first innings. With his first double-century as captain, Smith improved his batting average to 62.32 after 108 Test innings. He is currently second all-time behind Sir. Donald Bradman in Test batting average.

After victory in the Perth Test, Smith rated his innings as the best of his career. "I think that first night I was on, as you say. I was in the zone, and everything hit the middle of the bat. I felt incredibly good. Probably didn't feel quite as good yesterday, but still came off well and got the runs that we needed.

"That first night was probably as good as I've felt. I guess it's just getting across into that position I've been getting into for a while, with my back foot on off stump or thereabouts, and watching the ball. If it's at my stumps and it's a good length, defending it, and if it's too full, hitting it. Just defending good balls and putting away bad balls, really," said Smith, who was part of a fifth-wicket partnership worth 312 runs with Mitchell Marsh.

The 2017 Ashes will now move to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the traditional Boxing Day Test match. The fourth Test at the MCG will be followed by the fifth and final game of the series at Sydney. The Ashes Test series will be followed by a five-match ODI series between Australia and England.