Ponting hails finest hour.

RICKY Ponting and Shane Warne labelled yesterday's Ashes victory against England in Adelaide as the most imposing of their stellar careers.

After a brilliant bowling performance by Australia revived a match which seemed long since dead, the unflappable Mike Hussey (61 not out), hit the winning runs amid jubilant scenes to achieve a six-wicket victory and give Australia a daunting 2-0 lead in the five-Test series.

As Hussey cover drove the single that brought up victory and charged down the pitch shouting with joy, one arm raised above his head, the Australian dressing room erupted before the players charged onto the field to embrace Hussey and his batting partner Michael Clarke (21 not out).

"That's the best Test win I've ever been involved in," a jubilant Ponting said after hugging Hussey and Clarke.

Warne agreed: "It was just a great effort to win this Test the way we did."

England must defy history and a seemingly irreparable psychological battering to retain the Ashes it won so dramatically at home little more than a year ago. No touring team has ever recovered from 2-0 down in Australia to level a series.

In a complete contrast to its first innings 6(dec)-551, England lost 9-60 in 43 overs yesterday to be bowled out for just 129 in its second innings.

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