Australia has retained the Ashes on just the 12th day of the series, bowling England out for 68 on the third day of the Boxing Day test Tuesday to take a 3-0 lead in the five-game series.

Australia won the Melbourne Cricket Ground test by an innings and 14 runs.

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England's Joe Root, left, walks with teammate Jonny Bairstow as Bairstow leaves the ground after he was rapped LBW by Australia's Scott Boland during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia has retained the Ashes on just the 12th day of the series, bowling England out for 68 on the third day of the Boxing Day test Tuesday to take a 3-0 lead in the five-game series.
Australia's Scott Boland, second right, celebrates taking the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow, second left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Scores:
England's Joe Root pulls the ball against Australia during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Joe Root pulls the ball against Australia during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
England's Ben Stokes walks off after he was bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes walks off after he was bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
England's Ben Stokes is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
England's Jonny Bairstow has the ball bounce off his should after a delivery from Australia's Pat Cummins during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Jonny Bairstow has the ball bounce off his should after a delivery from Australia's Pat Cummins during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Scott Boland, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root, left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Scott Boland, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root, left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
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England's Joe Root, left, walks with teammate Jonny Bairstow as Bairstow leaves the ground after he was rapped LBW by Australia's Scott Boland during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia has retained the Ashes on just the 12th day of the series, bowling England out for 68 on the third day of the Boxing Day test Tuesday to take a 3-0 lead in the five-game series.

Australia's Scott Boland, second right, celebrates taking the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow, second left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Scores:

England's Joe Root pulls the ball against Australia during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Joe Root pulls the ball against Australia during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes walks off after he was bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes walks off after he was bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Jonny Bairstow has the ball bounce off his should after a delivery from Australia's Pat Cummins during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Jonny Bairstow has the ball bounce off his should after a delivery from Australia's Pat Cummins during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Scott Boland, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root, left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Scott Boland, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root, left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

The fourth test is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5 in Sydney, with the fifth from Jan. 14 in Hobart.

England's Joe Root, left, walks with teammate Jonny Bairstow as Bairstow leaves the ground after he was rapped LBW by Australia's Scott Boland during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Joe Root, left, walks with teammate Jonny Bairstow as Bairstow leaves the ground after he was rapped LBW by Australia's Scott Boland during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Scores:

Australia 1st innings 267 (Marcus Harris 76; James Anderson 4-33) def. England 1st innings 185 (Joe Root 50; Pat Cummins 3-36) and 2nd innings 68 (Joe Root 28; Scott Boland 6-7) by an innings and 14 runs.

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Australia's Scott Boland, second right, celebrates taking the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow, second left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Scott Boland, second right, celebrates taking the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow, second left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

 England's Joe Root pulls the ball against Australia during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Joe Root pulls the ball against Australia during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

 Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

 England's Ben Stokes walks off after he was bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes walks off after he was bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)
England's Ben Stokes is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Ben Stokes is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

 England's Jonny Bairstow has the ball bounce off his should after a delivery from Australia's Pat Cummins during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

England's Jonny Bairstow has the ball bounce off his should after a delivery from Australia's Pat Cummins during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

 Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates with teammates after bowling out England's Ben Stokes during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

 Australia's Scott Boland, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root, left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Scott Boland, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root, left, during the third day of their cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP PhotoAsanka Brendon Ratnayake)