Australia demolished England by an innings and 14 runs in the third Test in Melbourne on Tuesday to retain the Ashes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It caps a shambolic tour for Joe Root's men, who were also well beaten in the Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide. And it could yet get worse, with two more Tests -- in Sydney and Hobart -- still to play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Most defeats -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n The tourists' defeat at the MCG was their ninth Test loss in 2021 -- a joint record for a calendar year along with Bangladesh in 2003. With the fourth Ashes Test starting on January 5, England will be glad to see the back of 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n - Disastrous batting -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n England's poor batting has been central to their demise. Skipper Joe Root, along with Dawid Malan, has been a rare bright spot. Root has 1,708 runs for the calendar year, at an average of 61.00. But a distant second to him for England in 2021 is maligned opener Rory Burns (530 runs), then Jonny Bairstow (391).<\/p>\r\n\r\n - Sitting ducks -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Malan, Jack Leach, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson all went for 0 as England folded for a paltry 68 in their second innings in Melbourne. Cricket experts Wisden said that was a record-equalling 54 Test ducks for England in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n - Century record -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Led by veteran fast bowler Jimmy Anderson, England gave themselves a chance in the third Test, before their batting again let them down. Australia's first-innings total of 267 was the lowest to win a men's Test by an innings this century, Wisden said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n