Posted by On day one of the important third Test in Melbourne, England’s batting collapsed once more as Australia’s dominance of the Ashes series continued.
England were bowled for a pathetic 185 after being called into bat in the legendary Boxing Day Test, behind 2-0 and needing to win to keep their Ashes aspirations alive.
After another top-order collapse, the tourists were 19-2, with Haseeb Hameed out for a 10-ball duck and fellow opener Zak Crawley, one of four England changes from the defeat in Adelaide, making just 12 runs on his return.
Captain Joe Root made it to 50 before being caught behind by Mitchell Starc after a sloppy whiff. On the stroke of tea, Ben Stokes chopped Cameron Green to point for 25 and Jos Buttler holing out off Nathan Lyon for three, the first of three disastrous dismissals in the afternoon session.
Only 35 from Jonny Bairstow, who was returned after some slogging, and 22 from Ollie Robinson, who was last man out after some slogging, kept the total from being any worse.
David Warner smashed an energetic 38 from 42 balls before being caught in the gully by James Anderson with just 10 minutes remaining to add to England’s woes.
On one of the most important days in the nation’s sporting calendar, Australia finished with a score of 61-1, losing by 124.
Source: BBC Sport