The Ashes 2013: England certain to retain the urn after beating Australia at Lord's By Paul Newman Forget the red herring of another last-wicket stand that came within three balls of taking this second Test into a final day. It does not get much more comprehensive than this, as one-sided as Trent Bridge was thrillingly even. The resistance of James Pattinson and Ryan Harris could only do so much to paper over the cracks. Australia were massacred at Lord's on Sunday and, two Tests into the series, it is already clear the Ashes are assuredly staying put. Australia could, of course, win the last three Tests but they have only ever done that once and they had Sir Don Bradman batting at three then rather than Usman Khawaja. There is about as much chance of that this time as India willingly embracing the Decision Review System after yet more controversies here. Can't keep him out of the picture: Joe Root (right) leaps into the England celebrations after their win Jubilation: The England players celebrate their victory Done it! England celebrate winning the second Test after Pattinson's dismissal Flying Swann: The bowler celebrates Pattinson's wicket Castled: Peter Siddle is clean bowled by Anderson, who celebrates (below) England's superior quality has told at Lord's after an indifferent first day and there would appear to be no way back for Australia now, not when they are such a shambles both on and off the field. They are simply not good enough. As England slowly but surely made their way through Australia's brittle batting yesterday, finally taking the last-wicket off the third ball of the last over of the extra half hour, there were yet more loud noises off. This time there were more statements involving Mickey Arthur and yet another Twitter row involving a Warner, this time with David's brother Steven hurling cyber-expletives at Shane Watson. Who would have thought that David would turn out to have the brains in the Warner family? At least all the off-field malarkey took some attention away from the cricket, which was almost anti-climactic in its predictability, at least until what is becoming the regular sight of the final pair showing up Australia's top order. This was the tourists' sixth consecutive Test defeat and their fourth straight in Ashes cricket. Any semblance of a feel-good factor emanating from Darren Lehmann's arrival has evaporated because of the huge gulf between these sides. England cannot worry about that. They must be as merciless now as Australia were during eight successive Ashes maulings between 1989 and 2002-03. This is no time to be having sympathy for the old enemy nor to bemoan what looks like being a lack of competitiveness in this series. It is Australia for heaven's sake. Andy Flower will certainly have no qualms about the size of England's victory, their second biggest in terms of runs in Ashes history. He knows his side have not been quite the team they were since they went to the top of the Test world two years ago and he will relish the return of their dominance. Joe Root, of course, was not around when England thrashed India 4-0 to reach their zenith but he will unquestionably, barring an unexpected disaster, be at the forefront of all the success they will have for at least the next 10 years. If there were any doubts they made the right call in promoting Root to open in this series then they were dispelled by his magnificent 180 here, ended only when he selflessly attempted to hurry his way to a double hundred. Memento: Joe Root celebrates the win by taking a stump The lad can do no wrong: Root is delirious after taking the wicket of Clarke Another one: Root jumps for joy after dismissing Usman Khawaja Close catch: Jimmy Anderson catchjes the ball to dismiss Khawaja off the bowling of Root All round star: Root celebrates the wicket of Australia's Usman Khawaja with teammates Missing out: Root salutes the crowd as he walks of after getting out for 180 And if there were any doubts about Root possessing a golden arm and about his ability to be much more than a part-time off-spin bowler then they too were banished by his timely intervention just before tea yesterday. When Swann went off clutching his back after a collision with Khawaja it looked as though Australia would at least take England into a fifth day as they pursued their notional quest to reach 583 to win this Investec Test. Yet all Alastair Cook had to do was lob the ball to Root on a pitch jagging appreciably out of the rough and, hey presto, Australia lost three wickets for two runs before tea, two of them to the boy wonder, and England were on their way. This was a superlative bowling performance from the hosts after Cook had declared once Root had become surely the first man in Test history to perish attempting to hit a six with a reverse ramp in pursuit of a double hundred. Injured Swann: The England off-spinner (right) holds his back after a collision with Khawaja Getting in on the act: Tim Bresnan celebrates the wicket of Steve Smith In and out: Michael Clarke got in and scored a half century before getting out If there was disappointment that he fell 20 short of a significant landmark it was tempered by the fact that England had kept Australia's bowlers in the field for another 114 overs in their attempt to grind them down before Old Trafford. There was no possible result then other than an England victory and it looked like it would come quickly when Watson was out lbw yet again - even he could not review this one - Chris Rogers had been undone by spin bowling of the highest quality from Swann's fifth ball of the day and Phil Hughes had wasted yet another review in questioning his lbw. Michael Clarke and Khawaja did at least delay the inevitable until Root snared both, the captain falling at leg-slip, and Steve Smith became the latest Australian to fall foul of technology when he tossed away his team's last review. It was Smith who had appeared to catch Ian Bell on Saturday only to be denied by a TV camera's limitations and there was more DRS misery for Australia when Ashton Agar was dismissed controversially. There was a clear noise when he swished at Tim Bresnan but Marais Erasmus was unmoved. England reviewed and third umpire Tony Hill over-turned the decision on sound and deviation, even though there was no Hot Spot. Plenty to ponder: The Australian players and officials watch on as the side lose the second Test Juggling the ball: James Pattinson looks back with wicketkeeper Matt Prior as James Anderson and Jonathan Trott all failing to take a catch Big appeal: Root, Prior and Swann appeal unsuccessfully for the wicket of Peter Siddle Hill may well have come up with the right decision but he broke the protocol of the DRS in doing so because there must be overwhelming evidence to over-rule an on-field official. Confusing? Unsatisfactory? Most certainly. Swann returned to trap Brad Haddin playing no shot but, almost inevitably in this DRS-driven series, Hawk-Eye said the ball would have missed the stumps. Only Australia, having failed to learn their lesson, had again run out of reviews. When Jimmy Anderson bowled Peter Siddle the end looked nigh but there was something predictable and almost comedic about the fact that the last pair again looked the most accomplished for Australia. Pattinson and Harris survived 14 overs and just as it seemed we would all have to come back on Monday Swann trapped Pattinson plumb in front. No arguments this time just English joy. They are on the brink now of their third successive Ashes win and Australia have much soul-searching to do in the week before the third Test.