Ashes 2021
3rd Test At MCG (Boxing Day Test) : December 26-28 ,2021
Australia 1st Innings 267 All Out (Marcus Harris 76, David Warner 38, Travis Head 27, Mitchel Starc 24*, James Anderson 4/33, Olie Robinson 2/64, Mark Wood 2/71)
England 1st Innings 185 All Out ( Joe Root 50, Jonny Bairstow 35 , Ben Stokes 25 , Pat Cummins 3/36, Nathan Lyon 3/36 )
England 2nd Innings 68 All Out (Joe Root 28 , Scott Bolland 6/7 , Starc 3/29)
Australia won by an Innings and 14 Runs
Player of the Match: Scott Boland
Scott Bolland only the proud representative of original citizen of Australia on his debut at home ground MCG walked into the history book taking 6/7 in four overs. Australia won by an innings and 14 runs as England got bundled out for 68 in the second innings before lunch of day three. Australia winning the Boxing Day test at MCG within two and quarter of a day retained the Ashes. England scored 185 in the first Innings. Australia scoring 267 took 82 runs lead. England got badly bruised, battered, hammered and humiliated.
With 0-3 down a comprehensive Ashes whitewash is now looming for the three lions. Australia looking great once again with a perfect blend of aggressive pace attack and brave batting unit. England looks down and out. Off course one of of the greatest pace bowler of all times James Anderson bowled wonderfully well in the only Australian innings at MCG. Needless mentioning that Australia won easily at Brisbane and Adelaide.
[photo collected]
There is very little to write about English performance. After being completely out played at Gaba Brisbane and Adelaide Oval they were expected to bounce back. They appeared with few changes. But rejuvenated Australia gave them no respite. On the green top pacey MCG wicket winning the toss and letting England bat Cummins, Starc, Green and Boland made English batsmen huffing and puffing. Apart from captain Root (50), Bairstow (35) and Stokes (25) none could withstand Aussie avalanche. Batting was not also easy for Australia against probing bowling of Anderson ( 4/33 ) , Wood (2/71) . MCG witnessed possibly for the last time Champion Englishmen Anderson displaying his wonderful brand of swing bowling. However, Marcus Harris (76), David Warner (38) Travis Head (27) applying themselves ensured that Australia had useful 82 runs lead.
Australia in the second innings of England struck deadly blows at days end of day two. Starc and Bolland made early inroads reducing England to 31/4 .
Day three started with England back to the wall. Root and Stokes were expected to fight back. But Starc delivering almost an unplayable ball rocked Stokes. Then came the amazing exhibition of homeboy Bolland. As if the ball in his hand turned into the flute of the Pied Piper of Hamilon. In only four overs he crashed England into submission taking 6 wickets for 7 runs. England got bundled out for 68 conceding defeat by an innings and 14 runs. Australia wrapped up the Ashes (3-0). The reaming two matches at Sydney and Hobart are to see whether England can avoid series white wash.
All the stars appeared to be favoring Australia. Whoever they are putting into play turning gold. At Adelaide it was Kyle Richardson. Here at MCG it was Scott Bolland. This Australian team is again developing into a very strong team in all format.
Source: Hindustan Times
BDST: 1223 HRS, DEC 28, 2021
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