Three Tests, three big wins. The Australians have been absolutely merciless in the ongoing Ashes series. Once they had England on the mat in the first Test, they didn't release the pressure and in true Aussie style went for the jugular.
The fast bowlers have been exceptional for Australia. Consider this - across the three Tests that have been played so far, England's highest innings total has been 297 which was recorded in the second innings in the Brisbane Test. England's scores so far in the series read - 147 & 297 (1st Test - Brisbane), 236 & 192 (2nd Test - Adelaide), 185 & 68 (3rd Test - Melbourne).
The latest result, in the Boxing Day Test was the most crushing loss handed to the visitors by a rampaging Aussie unit, led by new Test captain Pat Cummins, who has been phenomenal with the ball himself. England were shot out for just 68 in their second innings, which gave Australia a huge innings and 14 run win and with it an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series. And with this the Aussies have retained the coveted urn.
Here are some of the big statistics that have emerged out of the Boxing Day Test result:
This is the lowest Ashes total in Australia since 1936. The lowest total ever in Australia in a match against England has been 42. This is when the Aussies were shot out for that score by the English in Sydney in 1888.
The 68 all out is also England's lowest total in Australia since 1904. In 1904, the English were bowled out for 61 in Melbourne. Incidentally, they were bowled out for the same score (61) in 1902 also. That too was in Melbourne. Overall this is their ninth lowest Test total in Australia. The lowest recorded score for the English in Australia is 45 (Sydney, 1887).
Overall, the 68 all out is England's 13th lowest total in Tests.
Joint most ducks ever for England
There have been a total of 54 ducks in Tests for England in 2021. This is now their joint worst performance in that department. Before this, England had recorded 54 ducks in Test cricket in 1998 also.
Scott Boland (6 wickets for 7 runs in England second innings)
Test debutant Scott Boland was unplayable at the MCG. He took a total of 7 wickets in the Boxing Day Test, out of which as many as 6 were taken in the England second innings. Incredibly he took his 6 wickets in the space of just 21 balls. Boland accounted for the wickets of Hasseb Hameed (7), Joe Root (28), Jack Leach (0), Jonny Biarstow (5), Mark Wood (0) and Ollie Robinson (0).
Boland, who is overall only the fourth indegenous Australian to play Test cricket, after Faith Thomas (Australia Women), Jason Gillespie and Ashley Gardner (Australia Women), recorded the 22nd best figures overall in an innings on Test debut, thanks to his incredible figures of 6-7.
Boland, who has played 14 ODIs and 3 T20Is also for Australia was told on Day 5 of the Adelaide Test that he would be added to the squad for the Boxing Day Test. His excellent form while playing for Victoria in domestic cricket made the selectors notice him again. His Test debut for Australia at the MCG was in fact his first international appearance since 2016. His 6-7 in the England second innings, which also helped him walk away with the Man of the Match award, was the 6th best figures in an innings on Test debut overall by an Australian.
Joe Root (Third highest Test runs in a calendar year)
It was not surprising to hear Joe Root say that he was absolutely gutted with the result. It must be a particularly bitter pill to swallow for Root, not just because he is the captain of the team, but also because he was the sole bright light of the England squad, at least in the batting department.
Root overall has had a phenomenal year in Test cricket. When he fell for 28 in the second innings at the MCG, he finished the year 2021 with 1708 Test runs. That's the third most runs scored in a calendar year ever in Test cricket.
Root fell just 2 runs short of equalling the great Viv Richards tally of 1710 runs in 1976. Overall the record still belongs to Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan, who scored a mind boggling 1788 runs in 2006.
