Ashes: England's Disastrous Loss At MCG In Numbers

Cricket Image for Ashes: England's Disastrous Loss At MCG In Numbers (Image Source: AFP)

Australia demolished England by an innings and 14 runs in the third Test in Melbourne on Tuesday to retain the Ashes.

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.

Let's take a look at the numbers behind England's Ashes humiliation:

- Most defeats -

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.

- Disastrous batting -

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).

- Sitting ducks -

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.

- Century record -

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.

- Unplayable Boland -

Bowler Scott Boland had a dream debut for Australia on home turf at Melbourne Cricket Ground, taking five wickets in just 19 balls, the joint-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history. He finished with incredible figures of 6-7 off four overs to write himself in Ashes folklore.