Australia retain Ashes as sorry England collapse again at MCG

PA Media/dpa Melbourne England surrendered the Ashes in embarrassing fashion in Melbourne on Tuesday, blitzed for 68 all out in their second innings to sl...

PA Media/dpaMelbourne England surrendered the Ashes in embarrassing fashion in Melbourne on Tuesday, blitzed for 68 all out in their second innings to slump 3-0 behind in just 12 days of cricket.A tour that has lurched from disappointment to disappointment literally since ball one - when Rory Burns lost his leg stump - plumbed new lows as England capitulated on the third morning of the Boxing Day Test.The final margin of defeat, an innings and 14 runs, was an indictment on every level given they had restricted the hosts to a modest 267.Veteran seamer Scott Boland, who was seventh choice just a few weeks ago, was their unlikely destroyer claiming remarkable figures of six for seven as a procession of batters queued up to give up their wickets.There was no fight, no quality and no respite as England resumed on 31 for four and lost their next six for another 37, failing to even make Australia bat again.Much of the damage had been done on the second evening, when 12 overs of shock and awe with the new ball, left them 31 for four and circling the drain of yet another damaging defeat.The continuation of the match had been in doubt due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the England camp, which has now seen six positive cases split between family members and backroom staff, but both squads received the all-clear.England nowhere near good enough: VaughanFormer England skipper Michael Vaughan said that England was nowhere near good enough and in the end.“England nowhere near good enough .. they will know that .. but seeing a 32 yr old on debut on his home turf with the Crowd going berserk is what makes Sport so special. Well done Australia. Far too good for England .. #Ashes,” tweeted Vaughan. Resuming Day 3 of the MCG Test at 31/4, England kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and the side was unable to match Australia’s lead and in the end, they suffered an innings defeat.Today’s not the day to speculate on Langer’s future as coach: CumminsAustralia skipper Pat Cummins said that his side will celebrate the Ashes victory rather than speculating Justin Langer’s future as the head coach.“I think we’ll savour this victory today and continue for the Ashes and I don’t think today’s the day to speculate on that,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Cummins as saying. “I think we’ll sit down all together after this series or whenever I think his tenure is up or his contract is up for renewal in a few months, I think we’ll visit that then,” he added.Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley on Sunday had hinted that the coaches for different formats could be split and he did not give a clear answer on whether Justin Langer would remain the coach for all three formats going forward.Langer’s tenure as the head coach is slated to come to an end next year, however he has shown his willingness to remain the coach of the side.Speculation is rife in Australia cricketing circles regarding Michael Di Venuto and Andrew McDonald taking over as the white-ball coach.