Australia have already retained The Ashes after taking unassailable 3-0 in five-match series following wins in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide; England, aiming to avoid 5-0 sweep, have lost 16 and drawn two of the previous 18 Tests in Australia;

The Boxing Day Test is set for a Day 2 finish as England chases 175 to win a Test for the first time in Australia since 2011.

The surface at Melbourne's MCG has come in for heavy criticism after 20 wickets fell on day one of the Ashes Test

Alastair Cook flagged issues beyond tactics, pointing to flawed selection pathways and a widening gap between county performances and chances at the Test level.

England will look into reports of players drinking excessively during a break from the Ashes series in Noosa, says director of cricket Rob Key.