Skipper Joe Root said England must front up and somehow salvage some pride after surrendering the Ashes series in calamitous fashion on Tuesday, admitting Australia have outplayed them throughout. 

Pat Cummins’ hosts ripped through the England batting to dismiss them for 68 and win the Melbourne third Test by an innings and 14 runs to retain the urn. It followed a 275-run thrashing in Adelaide and a nine-wicket thumping in Brisbane, with two Tests in Sydney and Hobart left for England to save face.