Melbourne, Dec 28 (FN Agency) Australia defeated England by an innings and 14 runs in the third Test to retain the Ashes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Tuesday. The hosts skittled England’s chances for 68 all out in the first session of Day 3 of the third Test. Thirty-two-year-old debutante Scott Boland set the stage for Australia as he picked four wickets in his four overs, after Mitchell Starc bowled Ben Stokes for 11 early. For his sensational bowling, Boland was adjudged Player of the Match and won the Johnny Mullagh Medal.
Boland trapped Jonny Bairstow in front of the stumps first. The batter reviewed the call unsuccessfully. Then, he scalped captain Joe Root for 28, who edged the ball and it went straight to David Warner in the slip. Mark Wood became his fifth victim of the match, as he caught and bowled Wood for 6. The Aussie pacer claimed his sixth wicket after he got rid of Ollie Robinson for a duck and returned with a figure of 6/7. Cameron Green put the last nail in the coffin after he dismissed James Anderson for 2 and the Aussies retained the Ashes with panache. After the scintillating performance at the MCG, the hosts now hold an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and have moved to the top of the World Test championship standings with 36 points and 100 winning percentage. England will look to avoid 5-0 sweep in the series when they take the field in the fourth test on January 5 in Sydney.