Gary Kirsten has declared his interest in coaching England's beleaguered Test team, with Chris Silverwood in the firing line after disappointing in the Ashes.

Current England coach and selector Silverwood has come under scrutiny after defeat to Australia, with the tourists already down and out at 3-0 in the series with two Tests left to play.

The former India and South Africa coach Kirsten, who led both of those sides to the top of the red-ball rankings, has twice been linked with the England role and is likely to be a favoured candidate again should Silverwood depart.

Former Proteas opener Kirsten expressed his interest in the job but insisted he would only take charge of the red-ball side if Eoin Morgan's dominant white-ball team would be coached by someone else.

"Listen, it [the England job] is always a consideration because it's a tremendous honour," Kirsten told iNews. 

"I've walked this journey twice now [when England recruited new coaches in 2015 and 2019] and I've always made it clear that I would never commit to doing all formats.

"And when international cricket boards get their head around the fact that they need to split coaching roles, then it becomes a consideration.

"Working with a Test side, or working with an ODI side is great. Listen, the England ODI side is set up, you're the best ODI side in the world at the moment.

"It's a project that has been well thought-out. You've got consistency in the players that have been picked. Your Test side has battled for a while, but it would be a really lovely project to get that going."

Indeed, the 54-year-old was a frontrunner to replace Trevor Bayliss when he parted ways with England in 2019 before Silverwood was eventually appointed as the Australian's successor.

Kirsten, who has previously built formidable Test sides with both India and South Africa, could be sensing another great rebuild should Silverwood be given his marching orders in the wake of another Ashes hammering.

"Interestingly, when I finished with India and I joined South Africa, we just looked at it and said 'our priority has to be Test match cricket'," he added. "I actually said to the CEO of Cricket South Africa that I was happy to just do the Test side because I felt it should be the number one side in the world.

"It had all the credentials to do that. The issue is that the different formats have the potential to cannibalise teams. You focus too much attention on one format and the other format takes the hit. 

"It's not easy to get everything right. Look at Australia, they're now using a lot of players across the different formats.

"It [England] is an interesting one. I think it's a great project for someone to come in and take that Test side on. There's a lot that needs to be put in place to build this Test team out."

Kirsten is already on the ECB's payroll, having worked with the Welsh Fire in the inaugural Hundred competition, where conversations with some key figures surprised him as to the uncertainties and deficiencies within the English game.

"When I was over there I asked a number of coaches and players who their top six would be for the England Test side – and I never got the same answer from anyone," he continued.

"That's a good illustration of the issue you have. If you don't know what your top six is, or really have no idea of the best six batsmen in the country, then how can build consistency around guys who are going to come in and, when needed, make a play?"

Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect to prioritise spending "more time with his growing family".

Wicketkeeper and versatile batter De Kock revealed his decision in the aftermath of a 113-run defeat for South Africa against India in the first Test at Centurion on Thursday.

Across 54 internationals in the longest format, the left-handed De Kock managed 3,300 runs at an average of 38.32, including six centuries and 22 half-centuries for the Proteas.

The 29-year-old registered scores of 34 and 21 against Virat Kohli's side in the three-Test series opener, though he was set to miss the second and third Tests after being granted paternity leave for the birth of his first child.

However, he has opted to entirely step away from red-ball cricket to focus on family life, while remaining available for limited-overs selection for the Proteas.

"This is not a decision that I have come to very easily," De Kock said in a statement issued by Cricket South Africa (CSA). "I have taken a lot of time to think about what my future looks like and what needs to take priority in my life now that Sasha and I are about to welcome our first child into this world and look to grow our family beyond that. 

"My family is everything to me and I want to have the time and space to be able to be with them during this new and exciting chapter of our lives.

"I love Test cricket and I love representing my country and all that it comes with. I've enjoyed the ups and the downs, the celebrations and even the disappointments, but now I've found something that I love even more.

"In life, you can buy almost everything except for time, and right now, it's time to do right by the people that mean the most to me.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of my Test cricket journey from the very beginning. To my coaches, team-mates, the various management teams and my family and friends – I couldn't have shown up as I did without your support.

"This is not the end of my career as a Protea, I'm fully committed to white-ball cricket and representing my country to the best of my ability for the foreseeable future.

"All the best to my team-mates for the remainder of this Test series against India. See you in the ODIs and T20s."

De Kock began 2021 as South Africa's temporary Test captain, leading the Proteas against Sri Lanka and Pakistan before being rested for the ODIs against the Netherlands after struggles with COVID-19 bubble life.

He will be sorely missed behind the stumps in the red-ball arena, given he has 232 dismissals – including 221 catches and 11 stumpings – to his name since his Test debut against Australia in 2014.

"It's sad to lose a player of Quinton’s calibre at what we still see as the prime of his career and relatively young life, but family, as we all say here at CSA, is everything," CSA's Acting chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki added.

"He has been a loyal and proud servant of the Proteas team for the last seven years and we are glad that we have not lost him from the game entirely.

"We value his contribution to the team as a leader and we are grateful for the time and energy that he has given the team in years passed.

"We would like to wish him and Sasha all the best ahead of the birth of their little girl and we are excited to be gaining another member in our cricket family. We look forward to seeing Quinton at his fighting best in white-ball cricket."

Virat Kohli felt the way India's bowlers wrapped up a historic victory over South Africa in the first Test showed the hallmark of their team as they made a "perfect start" to the three-match series.

The tourists secured a first win at SuperSport Park in the longest format at the third attempt, defeating the Proteas by 113 runs on the final day.

South Africa were all out for 191 just after lunch, Jasprit Bumrah taking 3-50 and Mohammed Shami 3-63 after claiming a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Mohammed Siraj (2-47) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-18) also struck as India put themselves on course to celebrate a first Test series triumph in South Africa.

India captain Kohli paid tribute to KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, who laid the foundations with first-innings knocks of 123 and 60, before praising his bowling attack for finishing off the job.

He said during the post-match presentation: "We got off to the perfect start. Getting the result in four days shows how well we played. It's always a difficult place, South Africa, but we were clinical with bat, ball and in the field.

"A lot of credit goes to Mayank and KL, and we were in pole position at 270 for 3 after day one. We had a lot of belief in our bowling unit to get the job done."

During the match, Shami went past 200 Test wickets for his career, while Bumrah went from bowling the fewest overs in the first innings to the most in the second.

"The way these guys bowl together, it's just a hallmark of our team getting a result from that position," Kohli said.

"Shami is an absolutely world-class bowler, among the top three seam bowlers in the world for me. I'm very, very happy for him to get 200 wickets and have an impactful performance."

A battling 77 from home captain Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma's tenacious unbeaten 35 failed to prevent India from drawing first blood.

South Africa failed to make 200 in either innings and Elgar says they must improve with the bat.

He said: "It was always going to be a bit tough. We could have executed our lengths better on day one, but we fought back after lunch, but then we let it slip a little bit after tea.

"Our bowlers were brilliant after that [on day three]. It was great to restrict India. But with bat in hand, we let ourselves down quite a lot. I say the difference was the batting.

"I think we can have a little sit down and strategise going forward. I don't think we did a lot wrong."

India took a 1-0 lead over South Africa by wrapping up a 113-run victory on the final day of the first Test at SuperSport Park.

The tourists had failed to win a Test in Centurion in their two previous matches, but bowled the Proteas out for 191 to draw first blood in the three-match series.

Jasprit Bumrah (3-50) and Mohammed Shami (3-63) were the picks of the bowlers, with support from Mohammed Siraj (2-47) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-18).

Battling knocks from Dean Elgar (77) and Temba Bavuma (35 not out) were in vain, with India sealing only their fourth Test win in South Africa just after lunch on Friday.

Bumrah got the breakthrough 10 overs into the morning session after the Proteas resumed on 94-4, trapping captain Elgar lbw with a ball that nipped back off the seam.

Quinton de Kock got a start but fell for 21 when he chopped on attempting to cut Siraj.

Bavuma continued to dig in, but India took lunch closing in on victory with South Africa 182-7 after Wiaan Mulder nicked a textbook probing delivery from Shami through to Rishabh Pant.

India only needed two overs of the afternoon session to finish the contest, Shami removing Marco Jansen before Ashwin got rid of Kagiso Rabada and had Lungi Ngidi caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at leg slip first ball.

Bumrah a tormentor on tour

India paceman Bumrah struck a massive early blow by seeing the back of South Africa skipper Elgar.

The dismissal of the gritty opener was Bumrah's 100th overseas in 23 Tests, making him the fastest to reach that landmark for India.

Bumrah produced a brilliant delivery to clean up Rassie van der Dussen on day four before also making a mess of Keshav Maharaj's stumps.

 

Battling Elgar and Bavuma show Proteas are up for the fight

South Africa have never lost a home Test series against India and although that record is seriously under threat, they have shown plenty of fight this week.

The Proteas have shown their potency with the ball and although they failed to make 200 in both innings, Elgar and Bavuma showed the sort of application that will be required if they are to mount a fightback.

India's relentless attack could not find a way to dismiss Bavuma, who faced 80 balls and batted for over two hours in the second innings, while Elgar led by example in a four-hour knock before falling to Bumrah.

Legendary batter Ross Taylor will end his long international career at the conclusion of New Zealand's home summer.

Taylor has established himself as a Black Caps great, scoring a record 18,074 runs in 445 appearances for his country.

The classy 37-year-old made his New Zealand debut back in 2006 and has gone on to become the only player to feature in 100 games in all formats.

Taylor has crafted an incredible 40 hundreds for the Black Caps and made 93 half-centuries, averaging 44.87 in Tests, 48.20 in ODIs and 26.15 in Twenty20 Internationals.

The former New Zealand captain announced on the eve of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh that his international career will end in 2022 following ODIs versus Australia and the Netherlands.

"It's been an amazing journey and I feel incredibly fortunate to have represented my country for as long as I have," he said.

"It's been such a privilege to play with and against some of the greats of the game and to have created so many memories and friendships along the way.

"But all good things must come to an end and the timing feels right for me. I want to thank my family, friends and all those who have helped me get to this point.

"There'll be plenty of time for more thank yous and reflections later in the season – but for now I want all my energy and focus to be on preparing and performing for the Black Caps this summer."

Black Caps head coach Gary Stead said: "Ross has always been a hugely respected member of the side and we’re thankful for his contributions to the Black Caps over an incredible career.

"His skills and temperament as a batsman have been world-class and his ability to perform at such a high level for so long speaks volumes of his longevity and professionalism.

"His experience has held the side together on countless occasions and his catching record [346, the most by a New Zealand fielder] speaks for itself. There's no doubt we’re going to miss him when he's gone.

"Seeing him hit the winning runs in Southampton to help win our first ICC world title is a moment I will never forget and I'm sure it's the same for many of the fans.

"I know Ross is really focused on performing well in these remaining series and going out on the right note."

Among the many highlights in Taylor's career was his 290 against at the WACA in November 2015, the highest Test score by a visiting batter in Australia.

England coach Chris Silverwood will miss the fourth Ashes Test after a family member of the touring party tested positive for coronavirus.

Silverwood's position has come under question after England's dismal form in Australia, with the hosts having already retained the urn by racing into a 3-0 series lead.

Defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide were followed by a capitulation in Melbourne this week, with the third Test not even lasting three days.

Silverwood will be unable to be in attendance for the fourth match of the Tour in Sydney, as England desperately search for a result in order to avoid a whitewash.

A family member who travelled to Australia has tested positive for COVID-19 in the latest round of PCR tests administered to the touring party, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed.

Silverwood will therefore have to isolate for 10 days, along with his family, in Melbourne. Another round of PCR tests will take place on Thursday.

The fourth Test is due to start at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, with the series finishing in Hobart after coronavirus regulations in Western Australia meant Perth was unable to host the final match.

India are six wickets from victory in the first Test against South Africa after Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the final few overs on day four in Centurion.

Chasing a target of 305, the hosts recovered from the loss of Aiden Markram (1) and Keegan Petersen (17) to reach 74-2, before Bumrah (2-22) bowled Rassie van der Dussen for 11, and then sent down a perfect yorker to remove nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (8) with the last ball before stumps.

South Africa will resume on day five on 94-4, still needing 211 runs to win.

The Proteas had earlier dismissed India for just 174, with Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen particularly impressing.

While Lungi Ngidi produced a brilliant 6-71 in the first innings, it was Rabada (4-42) and debutant Jansen (4-55) who did the damage in the second, with the latter dismissing Virat Kohli when the India captain edged behind to Quinton de Kock for 18.

KL Rahul, who scored 123 in the first innings, was out for just 23 this time, but the 334 balls he faced across both innings was the most by an overseas opener at Centurion, the third-most by any opener, and the second-most by an overseas player, with only Australia's Shaun Marsh facing more (372 in 2014).

Mohammed Shami, who claimed his 200th Test wicket on day three, bowled Markram early in South Africa's reply before Mohammed Siraj got the wicket of Petersen shortly after tea, caught behind by Rishabh Pant.

Bumrah picked up two more wickets late on, and despite a spirited 52 not out from Proteas captain Dean Elgar, South Africa have work to do to salvage a result on day five.

Jansen bodes well as one for the future

It was not the start to Test cricket that Jansen will have envisioned, ending day one of his debut with figures of 0-61, but after taking his first wicket of Bumrah early on day two, the 21-year-old has not looked back.

He was a constant threat in the second innings, taking the wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Siraj. At an imposing 6ft 8in, Jansen already looks to be the sort of figure that batsmen will not relish facing, especially once he has more experience under his belt.

Collapse does not see India relinquish control

Pant top scored for the tourists on day four, with just 34, while only two others managed more than 20 to contribute to a measly total of 174. However, it was still enough to set South Africa a daunting target of 305. 

The highest successful fourth innings run chase at SuperSport Park in history is 251 (England in January 2000), while the highest fourth innings score there is 268 (also England in December 2019), and Kohli will be aware that their second innings total was in part down to the increasingly difficult pitch.

Weather permitting, he will fancy his team's chances of clinching victory.

Veteran Australian opener David Warner has set his sights on one last crack at the Ashes on English soil in 2023 as he looks to bury his demons from 2019.

The 35-year-old left-handed batsman has defied his age with the third most runs in this Ashes series after being Player of the Series as Australia lifted last month's T20 World Cup.

Warner was part of losing Australian touring Ashes parties in 2013 and 2015 and was tormented by Stuart Broad in 2019 when he was dismissed by the seamer seven times in 10 knocks, managing only 95 runs across the series which finished 2-2 with the visitors retaining the urn.

"James Anderson sets the benchmark for older guys these days, we look up to him getting on in our days," Warner told reporters.

"Winning the Ashes here was obviously a big one. We still haven't beaten India in India, that would be nice to do.

"And England away, we had a drawn series but hopefully if I manage to get that opportunity, I might think about going back."

The 89-Test veteran has scored 7,551 runs with 24 centuries but battled during the 2019 Ashes in England.

"In terms of 2019, it was obviously in England so he [Broad] was able to get the ball to come back into us and away from us," Warner said.

"For me it was one of those tours where I didn’t back my game plan and I went too defensive, and I didn’t attack. That was my fault, and he bowled really well.

"Out here, they have obviously picked Ollie Robinson for a reason ... he’s averaging 21 with the ball, he’s had some success in England, he bowls a good line and length. I wouldn’t say I was surprised, they’ve done it before in Australia.

"They haven’t played both of them [Broad and James Anderson] too often here – you might see him [Broad] play next game, and maybe Jimmy misses it. I can’t worry what they’re doing, but from our perspective I think it’s great he [Broad] is not playing."

Warner also backed under-pressure opening partner Marcus Harris who scored a game-high 76 in the third Test at the MCG after managing only 38 runs in his previous four innings.

“His courage to keep fighting and working ways out to score runs when bowlers are bowling good lines and lengths, he fought it out really well and I’m really pleased for him," Warner said.

Mohammed Shami claimed his 200th Test scalp as 18 wickets tumbled on a captivating day three at SuperSport Park that ended with India in control against South Africa.

No play was possible on day two due to rain, but the Proteas made up for lost time by bowling the tourists out for 327 in a dramatic morning session.

The brilliant Lungi Ngidi took 6-71 as India lost seven wickets for 49 runs, KL Rahul falling for 123 and Ajinkya Rahane 48 after they had resumed on 272 in Centurion.

Kagiso Rabada provided great support for his fellow paceman, claiming 3-72, but India quickly shifted the momentum when South Africa started their reply.

Shami was outstanding, helping himself to 5-44 as the Proteas were bowled out for 197 in 62.3 overs, Temba Bavuma top scoring with 52, Quinton de Kock making 34 and Rabada 25.

Jasprit Bumrah (2-16) spent a long spell of the field with a sprained right ankle, but was able to return and end the South Africa innings, while Shardul Thakur chipped in with 2-51.

India closed on 16-1, leading by 146 runs, after Mayank Agarwal edged debutant Marco Jansen behind but Virat Kohli's side are well poised to take a 1-0 lead following a day that saw a record number of wickets fall in a Test at this venue.

 

Ngidi and Rabada tear through tourists

Rabada started the India collapse when he had Rahul caught behind in the fourth over of the day and De Kock took another catch to give Ngidi his fourth wicket, sending Rahane on his way three overs later.

Ngidi had his third five-wicket Test haul as Rishabh Pant could only fend a hostile short ball to Rassie van der Dussen short leg, with Rabada seeing the back of Ravichandran Ashwin and Thakur.

India were all out in a flash when Bumrah became Jansen's first Test victim after the excellent Ngidi drew an edge from Shami and De Kock snaffled a fourth catch. 

Landmark for Shami as Proteas fold

Bumrah struck in the first over of the Proteas' reply, captain Dean Elgar edging behind, before Shami took centre stage.

Keegan Petersen chopped on to the third ball after lunch from Shami, who then produced a peach of a delivery to clean up Aiden Markram.

Shami's impeccable line and length, combined with a touch of movement of the seam, accounted for Bavuma caught behind just after he reached his half-century. Pant took another two catches for the 31-year-old, who became only the fifth Indian paceman to take 200 Test scalps.

Chris Silverwood believes England can take "positives" out of a humiliating MCG thrashing that ensured Australia retained the Ashes less than halfway through the series.

Scott Boland claimed astonishing figures of 6-7 as the tourists capitulated to 68 all out in the morning session on day three, suffering a chastening innings-and-14 run defeat.

England needed a victory to have any chance of regaining the urn, but suffered a third hammering of what has been a painful series for Joe Root's side.

James Anderson had given them hope by taking 4-33 as were Australia bowled out for 267 on day two, but their batting frailties were exposed yet again on Tuesday.

Yet head coach Silverwood says it is not all doom and gloom for England and believes he still has the players' backing.

Asked if the players are stilt responding to him as head coach, Silverwood told BT Sport: "I think they are.

"We had a good honest chat after the last game [the defeat at the Adelaide Oval]. We just have to put performances together and start pushing back.

"It is disappointing for us all and the lads will be feeling that in the dressing room.

"But I have to give credit to Australia, particularly Scott Boland on debut and Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc for their opening spell last night.

"We had a good honest chat after the last Test, we just have to couple those performances together and find a way of pushing back against this bowling attack and scoring runs.

"Yesterday we had a little bit of disruption in the morning [a positive COVID-19 test in the team's family group] and I think the way the guys applied themselves on the field and the way the bowling attack rallied and got us back into this game was a credit to them.

"The way we caught in the last innings was good as well and I think there are positives coming out of this."

Silverwood believes England can salvage some pride in the remainder of a series that was over so soon after it started.

"We want to take something away from this series and we want to come back and compete in the last two Test matches," he added.

"We do have some world-class players and some youngsters as well who are learning on the job constantly. What we have to do is try and give them some confidence, we know they have ability and we do back them.

"We have to give them the opportunity to come out and show what they can do in the last two Tests."

Boland's figures were the best innings figures by any Australian on Test debut in Australia since Albert Trott took 8-43 against England at the Adelaide Oval in January 1895. 

Joe Root has refused to be drawn into the discussion around the state of English cricket despite Australia retaining the Ashes in record time and insists the series is not over.

England were humbled by an innings and 14 runs at the MCG on Tuesday as Australia claimed a series-clinching victory for an unassailable 3-0 Ashes lead.

Australia will now chase a 5-0 whitewash over England who were ripped apart inside an hour on the third day, bowled out for a meagre 68 which marked the nation's ninth-lowest Ashes score.

Despite the apparent gulf between the two sides and the disastrous nature of the MCG defeat, Root remained upbeat about achieving something out of the series ahead of Tests in Sydney and Hobart.

The situation has led to discussion around England's Test team and whether the County system is preparing players appropriately to compete at the elite level but Root would not be drawn on that.

"The series isn’t over yet," Root said at the post-game news conference. "We've got two very big games. It'd be wrong to look past that.

"As a player you talk about the next hour or the next session or the every next ball and managing that to be the best of your abilities, that applies to me as captain of this team.

"We have to make sure we come away from this tour with some better performances and a win or two."

Root added: "We need to put some pride back in to the badge. We need to give people back home something to celebrate and look fondly back on from this tour.

"It's bitterly disappointing to be 3-0 down but with two matches to go we have to make sure we come away with a couple of wins."

Root refused to use England's internal COVID-19 issues as an excuse for their ordinary third day display as they lost their remaining six wickets for 37 runs in 15.4 overs after resuming at 31-4.

The England skipper added that he felt his side had fought back on the second day with the ball, bowling Australia out for 267 to trail by 82 runs, but were unable to sustain their fight once again.

"I actually thought the way we went about our cricket on the field was excellent," Root told Fox Sports. "We put them under pressure and got ourselves in a position where we were very much in this Test match.

"We need to be more like that more frequently throughout the last two games."

He continued: "We've just got to do things for longer. There's been small pockets but nowhere near long enough to get into a Test match.

"We know the areas we need to improve on. We need to stay strong and make sure we use the next two Test matches as a real opportunity to take something away from this tour."

Debutant Scott Boland was "speechless" after his remarkable 7-6 spell locked in Australia's Ashes series victory over England with an emphatic win at the MCG.

Australia retained the Ashes by winning the third Test in Melbourne by an innings and 14 runs with right-arm fast bowler Boland making history in an astonishing spell.

Boland claimed four wickets in 11 balls on the third day, dismantling England's line-up as they were skittled for 68.

Australia clinched victory inside 81 minutes on the third day led by Boland's heroics, winning the game inside two days and one session.

"I'm speechless," Boland told Fox Sports after the game. "Coming in today I thought we had a pretty good chance of winning but never thought it'd be over before midday."

Boland, 32, had played 80 first-class matches prior to his Test debut, with his previous best-ever figures being 31-7.

"That's my best-ever figures," Boland said. "I got a couple of seven-fors in first-class cricket but nothing happened that quickly."

Boland, who was named Player of the Match, was fiercely supported by his home crowd, receiving wild applause every time he returned to the deep after each bowling over late on the second day and early on the third.

"They were amazing," he added. "They supported me so much from day one. Going down there just gives you a real big buzz."

Australia skipper Pat Cummins said Boland's success, having stepped up with Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser and Josh Hazlewood unavailable due to soreness or injuries, was a great sign for the hosts.

"It's a great sign for the health of Australian cricket we've got so many boys to pick from," Cummins said.

"Scotty came in, we were confident he'd do well, not quite this well, but we know whoever steps in is going to do a great job."

England only lasted 15.4 overs on the third day, with Australia retaining the Ashes within 13 days of cricket this series.

Australia lead all the key statistics, with the top four batting averages (Travis Head (62.0), David Warner (60.0), Mitchell Starc (58.5) and Marnus Labuschagne (57.25)) and top three leading wicket-takers (Starc (14), Nathan Lyon (12) and Cummins (10)) emphasising their dominance.

"I think we've been relentless with bat and ball when we've had to be," Cummins added. "The bowlers turned up and owned that good area around the top of off stump.

"The batters have really earned their runs. Some partnerships, Marnus [Labuschagne] and Davey [Warner] have earned the right to bat long, they've left well.

"When opportunities presented they've been brave and taken on the game. All round everyone has contributed."

Australia can claim a 5-0 whitewash with victories in Sydney and Hobart in the remaining two Test matches.

"I think any Ashes series is where you try to make a mark in your Test career," Cummins said. "Back to last series 4-0 and the one before that was 5-0, that goes down in history.

"We've got a chance to start cementing our identity and [it] can be the start for the next few years."

Victorian debutant Scott Boland produced the spell of a lifetime as Australia secured an Ashes series victory with an emphatic triumph over England in the third Test at the MCG on Tuesday.

England were skittled for a feeble 68 as Australia clinched an unassailable 3-0 series lead with victory by an innings and 14 runs inside two days and one session.

Player of the Match Boland was the story of the third day, claiming four wickets in 11 deliveries including England skipper Joe Root to finish with remarkable second-innings figures of 7-6 from four overs.

Root offered the only resistance with 28, after the visitors resumed at 31-4 but wilted against a hungry Australian attack.

Mitchell Starc (29-3) got the first breakthrough of Ben Stokes bowled for 11, before Boland took over as England lost their final five wickets for eight runs.

Boland first trapped Jonny Bairstow lbw for 5, despite a review, after he was dropped at gully by Cameron Green.

The debutant proceeded to claim the key wicket of Root caught by David Warner at first slip, before dismissing Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson for ducks.

Green claimed the final wicket to secure the series victory, clean bowling Jimmy Anderson to bowl England out for 68, their ninth lowest total in Ashes history.

England lasted only 15.4 overs on the third day, with the game being the shortest completed Test match hosted by Australia in 70 years, lasting 1084 balls.

The all-clear was given for day three of the Boxing Day Ashes Test to start on time after Australia and England players all tested negative for coronavirus.

There had been a scare ahead of the second day of the third Test in Melbourne when a member of the tourists' family group returned a positive COVID-19 result.

The England players and management were forced to remain at their hotel while they awaited their test results, before being given the green light to travel to the ground, with play starting half an hour later than scheduled.

Both sets of players took PCR tests after the second day of play and Cricket Australia on Tuesday confirmed all tested negative, meaning there were no delays for the third day.

The England team's support staff and the family members who tested positive on Monday – reportedly six people in total – are in isolation.

Australia were well on course to retain the urn after reducing Joe Root's side to 31-4 in their second innings after two days of play, with England trailing by 51 runs and 2-0 down in the series.

The second day of the opening Test between South Africa and India was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain at SuperSport Park.

India were set to resume on 272-3 as they looked to build on their promising total on Monday, but heavy downpours meant the umpires called play off after an early lunch had initially been taken.

Improved weather has been forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday in Centurion, though Virat Kohli's side will have to pick up the tempo if they are to build on their start.

Opener KL Rahul will resume on 122 unbeaten when play gets underway again, with Ajinkya Rahane joining him at the crease on 40.

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