England’s dismal show in the ongoing Ashes series has continued and this time the Joe Root-side suffered a thumping defeat by an innings and 14 runs where they bundled out for 68 in the second innings.
Root has admitted that the dressing room is “gutted” and disappointed after the show in Melbourne.
"Everyone in that dressing room is gutted," Root said. "We're bitterly disappointed to find ourselves in this position. You turn up today and you walk out with Ben Stokes and you feel like anything's possible. It's bitterly disappointing to be 3-0 down but there are still two Test matches to go. We have to try and make sure we come away from this tour with a couple of wins."
But Root also put his weight behind the players and said that the best 18 players are on the tour.
"I'd say that the best 18 players from the county game are definitely on this tour," he pointed out. "There are some very talented players within this squad and we have to find ways of upskilling ourselves and each other, and managing pressure points within the game better.”
Australia have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Debutant Scott Boland rattled the English batting unit and scalped a six-for while Mitchell Starc bagged a three-wicket haul during the course.
For England, it was only Root and Ben Stokes who went past the double-figure mark.