England’s Bazball project is in tatters as they missed another Ashes in Australia in three Tests.
The tourists were beaten by 82 runs on the fifth day of the third Test in Adelaide to trail 3-0 and extend a winless streak in this country to 18 matches.
Australia was delayed by a 40-minute rain shower, England pair Jamie Smith and Will Jacks, and a hamstring injury to spinner Nathan Lyon.
Smith was 60 when he missed Mitchell Starc. Jacks battled past lunch for his 47 and then edged the same bowler for the first error, where Marnus Labuschagne again took a stunning catch.
When Josh Tongue outplayed Scott Boland at Labuschagne, England were out for 352 and their misery in this country stretched to 14 years and counting.
This was supposed to be England’s chance to finally compete in Australia, the most anticipated Ashes in recent times.
Instead, it has become the worst tour in recent times, leaving the futures of captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key in doubt.
England have missed the chance to win the Ashes in just 11 days of cricket and must now find a result in Melbourne or Sydney to avoid the ultimate humiliation of a 5-0 clean sweep.
This is the fourth consecutive Ashes tour in which England has lost the first three Tests. By the time Australia visits the UK in 2027, it will have been 12 years since England’s most recent Ashes series victory.
Who will be in charge of England by then will be the subject of intense debate. Stokes and McCullum have contracts until the end of that series. In theory, Key has more influence over the fate of both men, but he’s probably under more pressure than either man.
This is a surprising victory for the Australians, who began the series with doubts about the selection and age of their team.
Captain Pat Cummins missed the first two Tests, Josh Hazlewood is out for the entire series, Lyon was omitted for the second Test and Steve Smith was absent in Adelaide.
Australia has still been too good for England, having been at home since 2011.
