Australia have retained the Ashes after a brilliant six-wicket haul from local boy Scott Boland helped them dismantle England’s second innings on Day 3 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Australia sealed the game by an innings and 14 runs and are no꧙w 3-0 up in the five-match series.
Resuming at their overnight score of 31/4, England lost Ben Stokes for 11 in the fifth♕ over of the day.
Captain Joe Root (28), Jonny Bairstow (5) and the rest of ಌEngland lower order were undone by a sensational spell of fast bowling from debutant Boland.
The 32-year-old pacer returned with impressive figures of 6/7 in just four overs. Aussie skipper Pat Cummins (3/29) picked up three wickets, setting up the series win💦 for his side.
England were bundled out for 185 in their first innings after being put in to bat first on Sunday, December 26. The hosts registered an 82-run lead while heading into the second innings as they were bowled out for 26🥂7 in their first innings.
The fourth Test will be played at the Sydney Cricket🐠 Ground from Wednesday, January 5.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Who says the BBL isn't good practice for Test cricket? Scott Boland bowled four overs in England's second innings and finished with 6-7.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny)
Scott Boland w🐎ins the Johnny Mullagh Medal. Couldn’t scriꩵpt it
— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron)
Keep going…. Hang in there…. Never know what tomorrow brings…. Scott Boland just told us that all over again
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Australia's plan to rest Scott Boland for 12 years ahead of this Test really worked out
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay)
The day three Boxing Day Test crowd of 40,945 didn't even get to watch a full session. I doubt a crowd has ever been so happy watching little cricket. Scott Boland has made them all very happy.
— Andrew Wu (@wutube)
Pat Cummins a fifer at Brisbane, did not play the next at Adelaide.
Jhye Richardson a fifer at Adelaide, did not play the next at MCG.
Scott Boland has now taken a fifer at MCG, will he play the next at🎉 SCG?— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
Ashes retained on home soil! 🇦🇺
An incredible six-wicket haul from home town hero Sco൩tt Boland led our Aussie men to victory by an innings and 14ꦺ runs
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus)
Barely three we🥂eks ago, Scott Boland was Australia’𓆉s SIXTH fast bowler in line to play this summer
Today, he has a 6-fa on debut as Australia win the . Lif𓆉e comes at you fast
— Martin Smith (@martysmith1987)
Fastest 5-wicket hauls in Test cricket: 🍌(in te📖rms of balls bowled)
19 – Ernie Toshack vs IND, Brisbane 1947
19 – Stuart Broad vs AUS, Nottingham 2015
19 – SCOTT BOLAND vs ENG, Melbourne 2021— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats)
Very poor from England side, total one sided b𓆏ut what a day for Scott Boland!!! Test debut at the age of 32 & then man of the match💮 on debut. 6-7 in four overs is unbelievable… Where was this gem before? 👏👏
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm)
Updated best day of Scott Boland's life rankings:
1. Today
2. Yesterday
3. Day before that— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny)
//twitter.com/LindaBurn🐎eyMP/status/147564686356♕2788864
Scott Boland is the second Ab⭕original man to play Tests for Australia (🔯after Jason Gillespie).
Very fittingly, he bec🃏omes first Australian to win Johnny Mullagh ಞmedal. Mullagh captained in the first ever Australian cricket tour of England in 1868 (a team of Aboriginals).
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
