Australia humiliate England to win the Ashes

Not even the wet weather could spare England an overseas humiliation, with play delayed by three hours after rain leaked through the covers overnight. They lost by an innings and 41 runs, while Aussie seamer Josh Hazlewood finished with a five-wicket haul.

"So many different emotions are coming out right now, I’m that excited," Australia skipper Steve Smith said.

"What an amazing feeling to win an Ashes series, my first as captain to be three-nil up... it’s quite incredible."

England resumed 127 runs behind Australia, facing the prospect of seeing out 70 overs to earn an undeserved draw, but any hopes of salvaging the series were all but extinguished in the second over when Jonny Bairstow fell for 14 to leave them five down.

Moeen Ali was next to fall for lbw on just 11, before Dawid Malan’s half century briefly sliced through the gloom.

But the left-handed batsman undid his fine work at the crease when he fell cheaply for 54, ending even the most blinkered of fans’ hopes of seeing out the day.

Craig Overton and Stuart Broad soon followed, the latter for a two-ball duck, as it was left to Chris Woakes and 11th man James Anderson to somehow bring England home.

They failed. Woakes fell just before tea to Pat Cummins for 22, signing off a miserable challenge as the Ashes returned Down Under.

England’s task is now simple: avoid a whitewash.

"It's bitterly disappointing," captain Joe Root told reporters.

"One of the most frustrating things is we haven't been blown away. In all three games there have been period where we’ve matched and outplayed Australia.

"I’m sure the next day or so will be pretty tough but we’ve got a bit of time to get ready for Melbourne... and show the character of the group we have."