Departing Ashes heroes praised in Australian papers

SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) Australia's three departing heroes were praised in national newspapers after Ricky Ponting's team wrapped up their first Ashes series whitewash in 86 years.

Australia's demolition of England was front and back page news but rather than dwell on the team's success, most papers focused on the emotional farewells of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer.

''Making such history was the perfect send-off,'' Trevor Marshallsea wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The same paper said it was a fitting way for the trio to end their magnificent careers.

''Everyone knew that the side was bound to break up soon.

But there was enough time left for one last memorable campaign.

And so the great men set a trap that only their opponents did not spot,'' Peter Roebuck wrote.

The Australian newspaper paid tribute to Langer, the least famous the departing trio but a player who epitomised Australia's fighting spirit.

''You want to smell the spent passion? Stick your nose in Justin Langer's sports bag and get a whiff of that faded baggy green,'' Peter Lalor wrote.

Others were looking to the future, pondering whether Australia could maintain their world domination without Warne, McGrath and Langer.

The Age noted that during Australia's lap of honour captain Ponting took young batsman Michael Clarke aside and told him he was one of the players the team would be looking to in years to come.

''If it was to be repeated next Ashes series, he said, it was now up to them. So did an era end. So, perhaps, did an era begin,'' Greg Baum wrote.

But not everyone was caught up in the hype of Australia's crushing win with several newspapers also taking aim at England's insipid performance.

Mike Coward wrote that while there was no shame for England in losing to a superior Australian team, the overwhelming manner of their defeat had ruined the series.

''It is shameful that the second-ranked team in the world was unable to legitimately compete in a contest of this magnitude before record and expectant crowds. Indeed, there may not have been a greater anti-climax in 130 years of test match cricket,'' Coward wrote.

''Presumably it has now dawned on Team England that while they were the superior outfit in 2005 they did not truly win the Ashes. The painful truth is that Australia lost them. And if that offends the sensibilities of Flintoff and company, so be it. For that is the reality.'' REUTERS PM HS0902