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Wonderful to regain the Ashes again and if there's a bit of controversy (re wet pitch) involved, all the better.
It would've been a travesty if the To and Froms had escaped with a draw given they were completely outplayed, with the only part of the Test they dominated being the Malan-Bairstow partnership in the first innings.
It would be interesting to know how many teams have had a double-century partnership yet still lost by an innings (a bit of research for me tonight over a few celebratory ales).
To Joe Root's credit, he didn't make a big deal of the "wet pitch/patch" drama, but you can be sure the Fleet St moaners will highlight it.
Then again, they'll be pretty scathing about another shocking England performance.

Freezin wrote: There were no wet patches when Eng went from 4 - 350 odd to all out for 400...that is where they lost any advantage..... obviously doesn't look good for WA cricket with what happened but hey pretty sure the Poms are used to batting on damp pitches in the UK all the time during April and May.....

Well done to Hazlewood again for leading from the front....in all the big moments for Aust this guy has stepped up every time with wickets.....be interested to see if Australia puts Starc to the sidelines now with the Ashes won....would love to see Sayers get a go but Bird is next in line I guess...any chance one out of Hazlewood or Cummins might be rested too?...

Freeze, Starc is the only one with a bit of an injury cloud, the others have done a great job are in good wicket taking form, so keep them going. They have had relatively mild conditions to bowl in so should be able to do the 5 tests on the bit. What bowler would be happy to be stepped down for a boxing day test at the "G"

Archie Duda Goal Machine wrote: It would be interesting to know how many teams have had a double-century partnership yet still lost by an innings (a bit of research for me tonight over a few celebratory ales).

"Between 1877 and December 2016, a team scoring 400 and losing by an innings happened 4 times. England in with a shot of doing it 3 times between December 2016 and December 2017"

I read this (more scathing) statistic on another forum I participate in - though have not bothered to confirm. Perhaps you could could do so, ADGM.

That's a great stat about teams scoring 400-plus and losing by an innings, Jack.
Malan and Bairstow's 237 for the fifth wicket was a record for a team that ultimately lost the game by an innings.
It was only the second time - after Hashim Amla and Alviro Peterson added 209 for the second wicket against India in Kolkata in 2009 - where a pair has put on 200-plus in an innings defeat.

I can see what Root was trying to say about the team not being blown away as they have been competitive for many parts of the 15 days of cricket played so far. However the scorebook is going to show 3 thumping victories to Australia. There have been at least 3 days in the series when England have gone completely missing after getting themselves into a competitive position. In Brisbane, Australia were over 100 runs behind on the first innings and 7 wickets down.They were able to Squiggle out of that thanks to Steve Smith and the tail and take over the initiative in the game. In Adelaide, the England bowlers failed to take advantage of helpful conditions in the first two days when Root had put Australia in.Then in Perth, the bowlers had no intensity and allowed Smith and Mitch Marsh to smash them all over the park on Day 3. They have also collapsed in the first innings of all three tests. 6- 35 at the back end of the first dig in Perth,very similar in Brisbane. Bayliss would be tearing his hair out.
By contrast the Australians have played as a tight unit, everyone has contributed at some stage in the first 3 tests, 12th man Handscomb took a brilliant catch to start the England collapse in Perth. The Aussies bowling unit is far superior to England's in these conditions and Smith is totally on top of his game whereas Root seems to be second guessing himself. The selectors hunches have all come good, particularly the selection of Paine which I didnt think would work but I am happy to admit I was wrong. Every chance it will be a whitewash now.

I think it will be an unchanged XI for Australia in the 4th test unless Starc's bruised heel is too sore. It would have to be pretty bad though for him to miss a boxing day test. It will be more interesting to see their selection for Sydney especially if the pitch there is conducive to spin. Would that bring Maxwell or even Zampa into the equation? For England, Mark Wood may come in for Overton who has a hairline fracture. I really admired Overton's attitude and I reckon he will be a good player in the future. There would also have to be question marks of the value of playing Broad and Moeen Ali, both of whom are out of form and not adding any value to the team. They would love to have a Stokes to bat at 6 or 7 as he adds a lot of flexibility to the team but they have to go with whats in the squad. Maybe its time to roll out Crane the leg spinner?

I think Bird will come in if Starc doesnt play A/M. Broad apparently is carrying an injury as well so he may not play in Melbourne.

Fine and warm for the first two days. Day 3 there is a 50 % chance of showers.
Bird bowled in a shield game at the same time as the Adelaide test a few weeks back ( he was released from his 12th man duties) and was man of the match with 7 wickets so I would think he would be ready to go.
By the way merry christmas and its been good to talk sport with you.

Interesting to see the Poms are whinging about the tail Enders copping a bit of body line. Do they really expect us to believe that they wouldn’t do the same if they had the same arsenal? Typical Pommy whinging. Not to forget that they invented body line and the Aussies refused to retaliate. As Michael Johnson said in an interview, do what the Aussie tail Enders did - learn how to to bat.

If I was an England supporter tonight I would be very happy but also frustrated as they finally appear to have the Aussies on the run. Great performances today by Broad, Anderson to finish off the first innings for at least 100 less than what it should have been. Then Cook and Root with an excellent partnership which if it continues will put England in a dominant position on day 3.
One slight problem though, the series is over. Where were these stand out efforts by their experienced players when it really would have counted?