Australia vs England, 3rd Test at Melbourne, AUS v ENG, Dec 26 2021 - Match Result

Australia win by an innings and 14 runs on a scarcely believable morning session. Didn't even reach lunch. England just blown away. It's been a horror tour. And what's to come? For now, though, lets just marvel at Australia's performance. Scott Boland with the greatest day of his career. Their pace bowling has been irresistible throughout the series. They took a wicket with the first ball of the series and haven't looked back. Hugs and high-fives all around in the Australia camp. Soul-searching for England. They have had some lows down under, but not any lower than this.

Sampath: "This Test match lasted 1084 balls, the shortest completed Test match hosted by Australia in 70 years."

John: "Has anyone ever bowled better than Cummins without taking a wicket?"

All the Australians are walking round the MCG taking it all in. Huge smile on Boland's face. I'm sure he can't believe it. "I'm speechless," he says on Fox. "I had no idea it would be over by midday. That's my best-ever figures, nothing happened that quickly. [The crowd] were amazing, going down there gives you a real big buzz."

Lowest first innings lead for a team to win by an innings:
46 - ENG (246) vs NZ (200 & 26) in 1955, Auckland
74 - WI (392) vs ENG (318 & 51) in 2009, Kingston
82 - AUS (267) vs ENG (185 & 68) in 2021, Melbourne
87 - WI (218) vs PAK (131 & 77) in 1986, Lahore
Chris: "This is surely the worst ever England team to ever come to Aus. I'll be shocked if it doesn't finish 5-0, the entire batting line up should be scrapped except Root, even he should be stripped of the captaincy after this tour though." - They'll be a lot of fallout. For now, the presentations...

Joe Root: "We've been playing in these times for a while now, all you can do is try and front up. Credit to Australia they blew us away. A lot of hard work to do. [Covid] It's not ideal, I though the way we went about our cricket on the field was excellent. We put them under pressure and were very much in the Test match. We've got to do things for longer, been small pockets but nowhere near long enough. We know the areas we need to improve on. We have to stay strong and look at the next two games to take something from the tour."

Pat Cummins: "It's pretty insane...an awesome few weeks, so proud of the group. Everything has clicked. So happy for Scotty in front of his home crowd. I think we've been relentless. The bowlers have owned that good area. Some big partnerships, they have earned the right to bat long. They've been really brave and taken on the game. Michael Neser, really disappointed he didn't get the chance, but a great sign of the strength of Australian cricket. We were really confident Scotty would do a great job. Maybe not 6 for 7! Any Ashes series is when you try and make a mark on your Test career. Last series was 4-0, one before that was 5-0, so a chance to start cementing our identity."

Player of the Match is Scott Boland who gets the Mullagh Medal in a hugely significant moment. Huge cheers around the ground. "Coming here today, though we had a good chance. Found out on Christmas Eve, told some family and friends. Thought it was going to be really tough, a big step up. Hoping to make a little bit of an impact. Like to thank the crowd for all the support, really appreciate it. There were about 17 of us who went away a few year to commemorate the 1868 tour, very proud to win this award." Boland puts the medal around his neck. Historic. Only one bowler conceded fewer than Scott Boland (7 runs) in men's Tests while taking six or more wickets in an innings - Jermaine Lawson's 3 runs in 2002 vs Bangladesh.

Well, blimey, what a morning that has been. Australia have their hands on the Ashes again and, if the series gets to its conclusion, hard to see it being anything other than 5-0. There's a lot to happen between now and Sydney because of Covid-19, but fingers crossed everything is okay. For now, though, I'm going to step away and starting picking through all the drama. From Miller and Gnasher it's goodbye for now and thanks for joining us over the last few days. See you again soon.

PhilFour: "Scott Boland, you beauty!"

What have we witnessed here? Feeble from England. Magnificent from Boland. What a few days at the MCG. Can he finish it this over?

Scott Boland has equalled the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in 19 balls. Ernie Toshack and Stuart Broad have taken one in 19 balls

Cameron: "Looks like Scott Boland has locked himself in for all MCG Tests for the next 5 or 6 years with this performance!"

Can England make Australia bat again?

Thanks Miller. This won't last long

Out comes drinks. It's been a relentless morning from Australia. Here's Gnasher for the last rites. As Root departs with 1708 runs to his name for 2021, two shy of Richards in second spot, and 80 short of Yousuf

Sowmen: "So yet another marginal decision going in Australia's favour, it will be an interesting stat to see how many UMPIRE's Call decisions have gone in each team's favour (both while batting " Marginal maybe, but bringing the stumps into play pays dividends