Ashes series: England suffer batting collapse, lose 3rd Test and series

Melbourne. Dec28 (Agencies): British team suffered yet another batting collapse, this time in 3rd Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. Apart from Root, England’s batting has been woeful so far in the ongoing Ashes series, and hopes of a better outing at the MCG were quickly dashed after the visitors were bundled out for 185 in the first innings. Australian  team in reply, fared a little better and posted 267 in the second innings to take an 82-run first-innings lead. England had about an hour and so to survive till stumps on Day 2, but the Australian pacers exposed the holes in England’s batting with a hostile spell of bowling. As the dust settled in Melbourne, England were in tatters, staring down the barrel and ignominy of an Ashes thumping. Mitchell Starc took two wickets off two balls, while debutant Scott Boland also struck twice in an over to leave the visitors tottering at 31 for four, still trailing the hosts by 51 runs.