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 now 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 England 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 267 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) December 28, 2021
Scott Boland wins the Johnny Mullagh Medal. Couldn’t script it #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ZXbvGdZDN4
— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) December 28, 2021
Keep going…. Hang in there…. Never know what tomorrow brings…. Scott Boland just told us that all over again
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 28, 2021
Australia's plan to rest Scott Boland for 12 years ahead of this Test really worked out
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) December 28, 2021
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. #Ashes
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) December 28, 2021
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?#AusvEng #AusvsEng#EngvAus #EngvsAus#Ashes #Ashes2021#AshesTest— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 28, 2021
Ashes retained on home soil! 🇦🇺
An incredible six-wicket haul from home town hero Scott Boland led our Aussie men to victory by an innings and 14 runs #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ZFuieXIM7r
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 28, 2021
Barely three weeks ago, Scott Boland was Australia’s SIXTH fast bowler in line to play this summer
Today, he has a 6-fa on debut as Australia win the #Ashes. Life comes at you fast
— Martin Smith (@martysmith1987) December 28, 2021
Fastest 5-wicket hauls in Test cricket: (in terms of balls bowled)
19 – Ernie Toshack vs IND, Brisbane 1947
19 – Stuart Broad vs AUS, Nottingham 2015
19 – SCOTT BOLAND vs ENG, Melbourne 2021#Ashes2021 #AUSvENG— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 28, 2021
Very poor from England side, total one sided but 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? 👏👏 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/pHEdF80ToH
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) December 28, 2021
Updated best day of Scott Boland's life rankings:
1. Today
2. Yesterday
3. Day before that— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) December 28, 2021
What a day for Scott Boland – winning the Mullagh medal on debut.
And what a proud day for Australia and the Gulidjan people.#Ashes2021
— Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) December 28, 2021
Scott Boland is the second Aboriginal man to play Tests for Australia (after Jason Gillespie).
Very fittingly, he becomes first Australian to win Johnny Mullagh medal. Mullagh captained in the first ever Australian cricket tour of England in 1868 (a team of Aboriginals).#Ashes
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 28, 2021
