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England have won the final Ashes Test match after a thrilling finish to draw the series with Australia.

With Australia chasing down 384 to win the match, a rampant England took seven wickets in the final session to edge out their fierce rivals.

England bowler Stuart Broad – in his final match before retirement – took the final two wickets in front of a packed crowd at The Oval in London.

England's Stuart Broad celebrates bowling out Australia on day five of the fifth Ashes Test 
Pic:AP
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Pic: AP

England's Stuart Broad celebrates with James Anderson and Zak Crawley after taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Carey
England's Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Carey
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Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Alex Carey

It means the fascinating five-match series ends 2-2 after weeks of scintillating skill, must-watch drama, and even a little controversy.

As holders of the urn, having won the last series in 2021-22, Australia only needed to draw the current series to retain the trophy.

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How the final Test unfolded

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‘We jumped on the energy of the crowd’

Speaking after the match, Broad said: “Woakesy and Moeen set the tone unbelievably and when we got a couple of wickets we really started to believe.

“The crowd was so loud and we really jumped on that energy.

“To pick up a couple of wickets to end the Test match and contribute to the team was very special.”

He added: “When you make that decision to move on from the game you wonder what your last ball will be, so for it to be a wicket to win an Ashes Test match is pretty cool.”

 England's Stuart Broad celebrates with James Anderson after taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Carey
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Broad celebrates with James Anderson

 England's Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali are applauded off the field by their teammates after winning the test and drawing the series Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
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Broad and Moeen Ali are applauded off the field by their teammates

‘I think 2-2 is quite fitting’

Chris Woakes, England’s player of the series and man of the match, said: “It has been an amazing few games and nice to come into the side and contribute. The belief was there that we could win from 2-0 down.

“There is incredible spirit in the dressing room. I think 2-2 is quite fitting.”

A fitting end to Broad’s glittering career


Rob Harris

Rob Harris

Sports correspondent

@RobHarris

His final shot hit for six. His final ball bowled taking the final wicket of the Ashes.

Stuart Broad couldn’t have scripted his farewell more perfectly.

Few athletes are able to sign off on their terms on such a high.

The fairytale ending did not feature the Ashes urn being lifted. You can’t have it all.

Denying Australia a first series win here since 2001 is sweet enough for the 37-year-old.

Taking the final two wickets – just as Australia still sensed victory at The Oval – completed the England comeback from 2-0 down to draw the thrilling series 2-2.

A fitting climax to a glittering career for the 37-year-old who only settled on retirement on Friday night.

Read Rob Harris’s full analysis here

England captain Ben Stokes said: “I think 2-2 is a fair reflection of the teams literally going toe to toe. Australia are World Test champions, they are a quality team.

“I don’t think many teams would have been able to respond from 2-0 down. I am incredibly proud of everyone’s efforts.

“We have been do or die since the second game and that really suits us.”

Australia’s player of the series, Mitchell Starc, said: “It has been an incredible five Test matches and the way it finished today probably spoke to the quality of cricket and the emotions of the whole Ashes.

“It has come down to the last session of day 25.”

England's Stuart Broad celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Todd Murphy during day five of the fifth LV= Insurance Ashes Series test match at The Kia Oval, London. Picture date: Monday July 31, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. ..RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use without prior written consent of the ECB. Still image use only. No moving images to emulate broadcast. No removing or obscuring of sponsor logos.
 England's Stuart Broad celebrates with Joe Root and teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Todd Murphy
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Broad celebrates taking the wicket of Australia’s Todd Murphy

Mollie King, partner of England's Stuart Broad, with daughter Annabella during day five of  the Ashes Series test match at The Kia Oval
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Mollie King, Broad’s partner, with daughter Annabella

Controversial stumping of England’s wicketkeeper fired up the team

Narrow wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s secured an early 2-0 series lead for captain Pat Cummins’ side.

But the controversial stumping of England’s wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow on day five at Lord’s fired up England.

An injury to Australian spinner Nathan Lyon also appeared to help turn the tables for Ben Stokes’ team.

England roared back at Headingley to make it 2-1, and then had Australia on the ropes in the fourth Test match at Old Trafford as they looked to level the series.

However, the weather had the final say in Manchester, with the last two days of the Test rained off, resulting in a draw.

Australia went into the fifth and final Test having already retained The Ashes.

England are due to travel to Australia in 2025 for the next Ashes series.

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Boy saved from burning car after M6 crash caused by suicidal ex-RAF pilot, inquest hears

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Boy saved from burning car after M6 crash caused by suicidal ex-RAF pilot, inquest hears

A workman saved a seven-year-old boy from a burning car in the aftermath of a deadly crash caused by a suicidal ex-pilot, an inquest has heard.

The schoolboy’s rescue came following the collision on the M6, which killed former RAF man Richard Woods and four others, in October last year.

Last week a coroner ruled that Woods, 40, took his own life by deliberately driving his Skoda the wrong way down the motorway while drunk and hitting a Toyota Yaris head-on.

The driver of the Toyota, Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, was also killed, along with his two sons, Filip, 15, and Dominic, seven, and his partner Jade McEnroe, 33.

Cockermouth Coroner’s Court heard on Thursday that Ms McEnroe’s son was also in the car but survived after workman Gavin Walsh came to his rescue at the scene, which was near Tebay services in Cumbria.

In a statement to the inquest, Mr Walsh said he was a passenger in a transit van travelling to Scotland when he witnessed the crash.

He jumped out of the vehicle and used a jack to smash the rear windscreen of the Toyota and pulled the boy out of the burning vehicle.

Mr Walsh said: “We really did try, I can assure everyone we did our best. We only had minimal time.

“I saved a life that day and I hope never to witness anything like that again.”

He added that he has never stopped thinking about the boy, and said: “I hope we will meet again one day and I will give you a massive hug.”

At the time, the family were returning to Glasgow from a trip to Legoland in Windsor, Berkshire.

The inquest heard that Wood, who was travelling at a speed of at least 65mph, would have been charged with manslaughter had he survived.

Recording conclusions of unlawful killing, Cumbria assistant coroner Margaret Taylor said: “I found that Jaroslaw, Jade, Filip and Dominic died as a consequence of the unlawful acts of another driver.”

The inquest heard how Mr Woods, from Cambridgeshire, had served a distinguished 14-year career in the RAF and was a flight instructor for BAE Systems at the time of his death.

Jade McEnroe and son Arran. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary
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Jade McEnroe. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary

Dominic and Filip Rossa. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary
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Dominic and Filip. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary

In Ms Taylor’s record of inquest, Mr Woods was said to have been experiencing “a number of stressors in his life” and had a “history of harmful use of alcohol”.

Following the crash, he was found to be nearly four times over the legal drink-drive limit and a two-thirds empty bottle of gin was found in his car.

On the day of his death, concerns had been raised over his behaviour at a work conference near Preston in Lancashire.

Mr Woods failed to return to his seat after lunch and was later spotted driving erratically and swerving across three northbound carriageway lanes on the M6.

After pulling onto the hard shoulder, he then proceeded to U-turn and drove southward on lane three.

Filip, Dominic and Jaroslaw Rossa. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary
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Filip, Dominic and Jaroslaw Rossa. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary

Detective Sergeant Deborah Story, from Cumbria Police, told the inquest that Mr Woods would have been prosecuted on four counts of manslaughter had he lived.

She said hypothetical charges of murder were considered by detectives but not thought appropriate because of a lack of information that Mr Woods knew the family or anything that provided a link between them.

Ms McEnroe’s parents, Marie McEnroe and George McNellis, told the coroner they thought it was “murder”.

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A statement from the mother of Filip and Dominic, and the ex-wife of Mr Rossa, Kamila, was read out at the inquest.

She said Mr Rossa, known as Jarek, was born in Poland where they became a couple and went on to have three boys.

He loved playing computer games and had “lots of friends”, she said, and worked at the Wagamama restaurant in Silverburn, Glasgow.

She said she was “devastated” over the deaths, adding: “Our lives will never be the same.

“I am heartbroken at the passing of my beloved angels Filip and Dominic.”

Marie McEnroe said her daughter, a spa therapist, had been in a relationship with Mr Rossa for about two-and-a-half years.

She said Jade had been a “brilliant mother” to her only child, was “really happy” with Mr Rossa and it was “lovely chaos” when all the boys were playing together.

Ms McEnroe added: “Life changed forever that day”.

Ms Taylor praised the “selfless acts of bravery” from those in the aftermath of the collision, including Mr Walsh, who she said went towards the burning car “without hesitation for his own safety”.

The coroner added: “Without his swift response, Jade’s child would also have perished.”

Addressing the bereaved family members, she said: “Your loss is unimaginable but you have conducted yourself with dignity and I thank you for that. I wish you strength for the future.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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Thomas Kettleborough: ‘Vile’ former police inspector caught in child sex sting

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Thomas Kettleborough: 'Vile' former police inspector caught in child sex sting

A ‘vile’ former police officer who was caught in a sting operation after travelling to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy has been jailed.

Thomas Kettleborough, 35, then an inspector with Avon and Somerset Police, was arrested in July 2023 while attempting to meet up with ‘the teenager’ after communicating with him on Grindr and Snapchat.

However, he was actually speaking to undercover officers.

After being detained at a car park in Bristol, officers found a bag in the boot of his car containing “an assortment of sex toys, condoms and bondage equipment, including a pair of limb restraints,” Exeter Crown Court heard.

More than 150 indecent images of children were also discovered on his phone and computer.

Kettleborough used the apps to have sexually explicit chats with the teenager, using the name Liam, while claiming to be 28, prosecutors said.

In February, he pleaded guilty to several child sex offences, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Last month he was sacked by Avon and Somerset Police and barred from policing for gross misconduct.

He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on Thursday.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the public would be “appalled by the vile and manipulative actions of this former officer”.

She added: “He was caught following a policing operation designed to keep children safe which has resulted in his wider offending being identified.”

Detective Inspector Dave Wells, who led the investigation, said Kettleborough’s crimes took place over four years,

The former officer held positions of trust in the police, the Sea Cadets and the Royal Lifesaving Society, but “concealed his true identity through an online persona as ‘Liam’, ‘L S’ and ‘Liamss5506’,” Mr Wells said.

Mr Wells added: “Specialist investigators are ready to listen and investigate any reports relating to Thomas Kettleborough or any other matters of concern. I want people to know that they will be believed.

“Thomas Kettleborough is now behind bars. I hope if there are others that have been affected by this case, they now feel empowered to tell someone, if they are ready to do so.”

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Lee Bremridge, defending, said Kettleborough had shown genuine remorse for his crimes.

He added that the former officer had “done everything that he can attempt to do to try and understand why it is he committed the offences that he did.”

Kettleborough was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

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Girl, 13, dies in house fire

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Girl, 13, dies in house fire

A 13-year-old girl has died after a house fire in Merseyside.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said it was called to the scene in Prescot, in the borough of Knowsley, at 11.42pm on Wednesday.

Crews arrived to find a blaze in the rear bedroom of a mid-terraced house.

In a statement, police said: “A man, woman and five children were able to escape from the property unharmed.

“Sadly, a 13-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family are aware and are being supported by specially trained officers.”

Police said four firefighters entered the property with breathing apparatus to tackle the fire, which was on the first floor, and search for people.

The blaze was extinguished at 12.29am on Thursday.

A joint investigation involving MFRS’s Incident Investigation Team and Merseyside Police has been launched.

Detective Inspector Steven O’Neill said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the young girl at this very sad time…

“A joint investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and the girl’s family is being supported by specially trained officers.”

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