Boland scripts fairytale debut as Australia stun England to secure Ashes

Boland was expectedly named Man of the Match, winning the Johnny Mullagh Medal. © Getty
The chants of 'Boooooland Booooland' reverberated through the Melbourne Cricket Ground as local lad Scott Boland scripted a fairytale debut that will make its way into the annals of Test cricket. The Victorian pacer blew England away with stunning figures of 6-7 powering Australia to an Ashes win in the opening session on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test.

The 32-year-old started the day with two wickets - that came in an over late on Day 2 - and despite a dropped catch, picked up four in no time returning six wickets in 21 balls as Australia skittled England for just 68 in the second innings to pick up a win by an innings and 14 runs on Tuesday (December 28).

England's woes and lack of fight were exposed once again by a rampaging set of Australian pacers, who were aggressive, relentless and did little wrong throughout the third Ashes Test. From being very much in the Test to losing by an innings, things spiraled a little too quickly for England, who could find no way back after that little fiery burst of pace-bowling late on Day 2.

Mitchell Starc knocked over Ben Stokes early on Day 3 with a full delivery as the Australians stuck to their lines and lengths and executed their plans to precision, sticking to their areas outside off. Boland struck in his first over of the day to get Jonny Bairstow and ran through England's line-up thereafter, who lost 6-37.

Joe Root was the only one standing in between Australia and a win and when Boland eked out an edge off his bat, it was the game for Australia. The England captain fell for 28 - finishing as the third-highest Test run-getter in 2021 with 1708 runs. It didn't take too long after to knock England over as Australia retained the Ashes. Boland was expectedly named Man of the Match, winning the Johnny Mullagh Medal.

Brief scores: England 185 & 68 (Mitchell Starc 3-29, Scott Boland 6-7) lost to Australia 267 (David Warner 38, Marcus Harris 76; James Anderson 4-33, Ollie Robinson 2-64, Mark Wood 2-71) by an innings and 14 runs.