Summary

  • Australia win Ashes

  • Hosts take 3-0 lead in five-Test series

  • Victory sealed before tea on final day

  • Malan 54; Hazlewood 5-48

  • 'Damp patches' delay start by 3 hrs

  • Rain leaks through covers overnight

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Text 81111

    We did win three tosses - is that a positive?

    Huggy

    Steve Smith of Australia and Joe Root of EnglandImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    England have taken 37 Australian wickets in five innings. They've only bowled Australia out twice, and one of those was in very helpful conditions in Adelaide.

    By contrast, the tourists have been bowled out each time they've batted, and they've made two scores of over 300 in six innings.

  3. Postpublished at 08:26 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    It is now raining in Perth.

  4. Postpublished at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Is there a way that England can improve when they are four or five down? There are a lot of problems as a whole. We don't have anyone with the hunger for runs that Steve Smith has.

    James Anderson of England looks dejectedImage source, Getty Images
  5. Postpublished at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

  6. Postpublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Solid handshake game here.

    Root & SmithImage source, Getty Images
  7. 'Experienced players have not stepped up'published at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    England captain Joe Root, speaking to BT Sport, on England newcomers Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan and James Vince: "For Rocky (Stoneman) to take a few blows like he did, that sums his character up. He's what you want at the top of the order.

    "The way (Malan) stepped up under pressure in the first innings. And Vincey in the second innings.

    "It is frustrating because you see things like because you want guys like me with a bit more experience to contribute, and unfortunately we haven't been able to do that."

    Joe Root of England looks dejectedImage source, Getty Images
  8. Postpublished at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    One positive for England has to be Dawid Malan - 140 in the first innings here, 54 in the second, a half-century in Brisbane. He's solved one of England's middle-order problems.

  9. Postpublished at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't think Ben Stokes could have stopped this. He's a very good batsman, he would have scored runs but his bowling wouldn't have made much of an impression.

  10. View from the press boxpublished at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

  11. 'Stokes absence not reason we've lost'published at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    BBC Test Match Special

    England coach Trevor Bayliss on Test Match Special: "The boys have been very good about not using Ben Stokes not being here as an excuse. It has changed the make-up of our team. But it's not the reason we have lost."

  12. Postpublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    There are still two Tests go to. What can England do differently?

    There's concerns over Moeen Ali, concerns over Alastair Cook, concerns over the workload the fast bowlers have come through already. And there's the elephant in the room - the absence of one all-rounder.

  13. Postpublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    From one keeper to another, although Ian Healy seems happier than Tim Paine...

    Paine & HealyImage source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Australia captain Steve Smith: "A lot of credit has to go to the selectors. They made some really bold moves at the start of the series and everyone who has come in has done a fantastic job."

  15. Postpublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    The Australian selectors have played a blinder. Recalled Mitch Marsh for this Test, he made a century. Tim Paine has kept incredibly well to the fast bowlers - he's got 16 dismissals to his name in this series already - and he counter-attacked beautifully in Adelaide.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    #bbccricket or 81111

    Jeff Wiltshire: can't believe people are trying to defend our performance when we've gone from 368-4 then lost by an innings

    Josh Davis: Australia picked a rookie opener, a guy they've dropped seven times, a keeper who doesn't keep for his state, a No.6 who averaged 21 with the bat and a fast bowler who'd managed 15 FC games in 6 years. Still stuffed us out of sight.

  17. Postpublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    I love Mitch Marsh's face here.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Text 81111

    Our honeymoon in Australia starts at the MCG next week... great.

    Laura in London

  19. Postpublished at 08:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    BBC Test Match Special

    More from Joe Root: "The MCG is a big occasion and we have a chance to win a Test match. I don't think captaincy has affected my bating, I thought I played pretty well here I just played a bad shot in the second innings.

    "That big score is around the corner. Steve Smith has played two match-winning knocks, he's class.

    "We knew before we got here that Ben Stokes wouldn't be coming. I won't stand behind excuses."

    Joe Root of England looks onImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Simon Hughes
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    I can detect a hint of fury in Joe Root's voice. What has happened in the last few months has denied him of his talisman on the pitch. Ben Stokes would have lifted the team.

    In the end England haven't played well enough. Why aren't the bowlers taking wickets? There is no firepower to come back at the Australians.