Boxing Day battering sees England Ashes hopes fade

England’s hopes of keeping the Ashes alive plunged on Sunday as their batsmen again capitulated on a dismal opening day of the third test against Australia in Melbourne.

Sent in to bat on a grassy wicket after returning Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss, England were skittled for 185 to the delight of a festive Boxing Day crowd, leaving the tourists’ bowlers with an improbable rescue mission.

By stumps, that mission appeared doomed, with Australia having pushed to 61 for one on the strength of a quickfire 38 by David Warner. Marcus Harris was 20 not out and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon yet to score.

Leading 2-0 after thumping wins in Brisbane and Adelaide, holders Australia need only a draw in Melbourne to retain the urn.

But Cummins’ men will be hell-bent on taking the series outright before the New Year test in Sydney.

Joe Root’s England, meanwhile, need a miracle.

Only one team has ever turned around a 2-0 deficit to win the Ashes. That was Don Bradman’s Australia, winning the 1936/37 series 3-2 on home soil.

England could do little to repel Cummins, whose pace bowling accounted for three wickets in the morning.

But several soft dismissals after lunch crushed England’s hopes of salvaging a respectable total while highlighting the team’s batting fragility this series.

Though Root chalked up his ninth half-century in Australia, he was culpable in his dismissal for 50, caught behind with a loose drive at a Mitchell Starc delivery.

The England captain now shares with former Australia opener Bruce Laird the unenviable record of the most test fifties in Australia without making a century (9).

Ben Stokes (25) and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (3) also paid the price for poor shot selection, the former caught trying to heave Cameron Green over point and the latter slogging Nathan Lyon straight to debutant paceman Scott Boland at deep midwicket.

“We’ve got to get a bit stronger and tougher with our dismissals,” batsman Jonny Bairstow told reporters. “That’s just being honest with ourselves.” (Reuters)