Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc leave sloppy England on brink of series defeat

England were thrashed by an innings and 14 runs in the third Test in Melbourne on Tuesday to fall 3-0 behind in the five-match Ashes series against Australia

Mitchell Starc ripped through England's top order on day three, while fellow paceman Scott Boland took three wickets in the middle session as England crumbled to 68 all out.

Carey's unbeaten 93 and Starc's 8, batting at number nine, had earlier helped Australia to a first-innings lead of 152 runs on a flat Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch

Joe Root led England's first-innings resistance with 50 but he was unable to prevent England from falling to 185 all out, as they gifted their opponents 146 runs in extras.

Australia opted not to enforce the follow-on and piled up 267 for six declared in their second innings

Cameron Green smashed an unbeaten 74 from 89 balls after Steve Smith (77) and Travis Head (51) had put on 127 for the third wicket.

The fourth Test starts in Sydney on January 5.