Australia have retained the Ashes with a series-sealing innings and 14-run win over England in the third test in Melbourne on Tuesday, with paceman Scott Boland finishing with a six-wicket innings haul in a stunning debut.
The 32-year-old Victorian had astonishing figures of 6/7, as England's batsmen capitulated for 68 before lunch on day three on a glorious day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"I thought we had a pretty good chance of winning but I had no idea we would do it before lunch," said Boland.
"That's my best ever figures ... nothing happened that quickly."
England had resumed on 31/4, their faint hopes pinned on captain Joe Root and Ben Stokes building a partnership.
But it all went up in smoke, as paceman Mitchell Starc bowled Stokes for 11 before Boland started an incredible spell of fast bowling.
He had Jonny Bairstow LBW for five, Root out for 28 and tailenders Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson each out for ducks.
All-rounder Cameron Green capped England's humiliation by having James Anderson bowled for two.
Australia sealed the series 3-0 ahead of the remaining two tests in Sydney and Hobart.
"Just an awesome few weeks, so proud of the group here and just everything's clicked," said Australia captain Pat Cummins, who led his side with aplomb as a late replacement for Tim Paine before the series.
"So happy for Scottie in front of his home crowd today, just an amazing feeling."
England have only pride to play for but appear to have little left in reserve, with their top order a massive problem.
Their batsmen were skittled for 185 in the first innings and have yet to reach a total of 300 in the series.
England captain Joe Root was left devastated. He has now lost seven of eight tests as captain in Australia after failing to wrest back the urn on home soil in 2019.
His top score of 28 in England's second innings spoke volumes of the team's batting inadequacies, and he was in no mood to discuss the future of his captaincy.
"I think they've definitely outplayed us in the three games," Root said. "We've not been good enough.
"For what is quite a young batting group, they're having to learn here in the harshest environment.
"We have to try and make sure we come away from this tour with a couple of wins."
Australia have claimed both the Ashes and the Twenty20 World Cup title in a golden six weeks, bouncing back from the 2-1 test series defeat to an under-strength India over the last home summer.
They will head into the final matches of the series hopeful of sweeping the Ashes for the first time since 2013/14.
"We probably haven't strung (together) the performances over the last couple of years that we expected of ourselves," said Cummins.
"So I think this really consolidates that we are a really good, strong test cricket side.
"I think it's a good sign for the next few years."
Reuters.
