Australia's press "took to England with subdued vigour in the wake of a comprehensive Ashes victory," secured on the final day of play in the third test at the WACA, according to the London GUARDIAN. The Sydney Daily Telegraph, "no stranger to hyperbole, was the most enthusiastic," declaring, "Rivalry dead: Brilliant Aussies humiliate pathetic Poms."
Other major news outlets "settled on recycled puns," with the West Australian editorializing that Australia had "urned" it, while the Herald Sun simply ran with "Smashes!" The "overall sentiment, however, was clear," with The Australian declaring the series "no contest" -- with "bragging rights urned." News Corp.'s Robert Craddock "endorsed what many had previously mused," writing, "England lost this series the day Ben Stokes punched a man and put a hole in his own career at Bristol in September. The vibe around the cricket world was 'no Stokes, no England'" (
GUARDIAN, 12/19).
TUNING OUT: In London, Martyn Ziegler reported an average of "fewer than 100,000 viewers per day" in Britain watched the TV coverage of each of the first three Ashes tests, according to broadcasting figures. BT Sport paid a reported £80M ($107M) for the rights to Cricket Australia's coverage over five years, including the Ashes, but said that the viewing figures "do not tell the whole story because they do not include those watching online or on apps." Digital audiences comprise an estimated 15-20% more. The peak audience was 340,000 but "still less than half the average TV audience" for the '10-11 series when England won in Australia and Sky had the rights (LONDON TIMES, 12/19).
BLACKING OUT: NEWS.com.au reported Channel Nine was "slammed for a final day Ashes bungle that cost Australians the chance to soak up the most magical moment of the summer." Australia won the the third Ashes test in Perth on Monday but some fans watching on TV complained they were not able to "savour the glorious feeling of smashing the Poms" because of an oversight on Nine's behalf. Almost immediately after the Aussies' victory, Nine cut its coverage at the WACA and went to its news bulletin -- "which had already been delayed so the network could stay with the cricket to see if Australia won before the tea break" (NEWS.com.au, 12/18).
