ustralia's captain Ricky Ponting (centre) holds a replica of the Ashes urn while surrounded by teammates after they won the third cricket Test against England at the WACA Ground in Perth yesterday. - Reuters

PERTH (Reuters):

Australia beat England by 206 runs in the third Test to regain the Ashes in record time after taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series yesterday.

Australia wrapped up another convincing victory with the second ball after lunch on the final day when Shane Warne bowled Monty Panesar to dismiss England for 350.

England beat Australia 2-1 at home last year to get their hands on the Ashes urn for the first time since 1989 but they gave it straight back after just 15 months, the shortest reign in the 124-year history of the contest.

"Losing the Ashes in 2005 was one of the low lights of my career but right now is one of the more special times," Australia captain Ricky Ponting told reporters. "It's a huge occasion for us and to win the Ashes the way we have has been unbelievable."

England captain Andrew Flintoff was generous in defeat.

"Australia played well in the three Test matches ... full credit to them," Flintoff said.

"We played well at times but they never let us take the initiative and always came back hard. It just hasn't come off for us."

Australia set England a target of 557 to win the match but the tourists' only real hope of keeping the series alive was to salvage a draw after losing the first Test in Brisbane by 277 runs and the second in Adelaide by six wickets.

Last Ashes

Warne, playing in possibly his last Ashes series, picked up three of the five wickets that fell on the last day to lift his career total to 699. He heads to the fourth Test in Melbourne, his home ground, poised to become the first man to reach 700 Test scalps.

"It's bloody fantastic to be honest, this side deserved this," Warne said. "It hurt in 2005 and we knew we had to be ready.

"This side can do special things and we were ready right from day one. It's a pretty good feeling."

Australia batsman Mike Hussey was named Man of the Match following his innings of 74 not out and 103.