England's dismal Ashes series defeat was confirmed as Australia sealed a 82-run victory on the final day of the third Test in Adelaide.
After comfortable wins in Perth and Brisbane, the result gives Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after just 11 days of cricket, equalling the shortest period in which the Ashes have been decided in the last hundred years.
Having begun Sunday on 207-6, England showed fight as Jamie Smith (60), Will Jacks (47) and Brydon Carse (38 not out) gave the tourists hope, but Mitchell Starc (3-62) moved Australia to the brink of victory before Scott Boland dismissed Josh Tongue to bowl England out for 352 in their pursuit of a record 435 to win.
Having won back the Ashes from England in 2017, Australia have now retained the famous urn on four successive occasions, drawing two away series and winning twice at home.
Defeat in Adelaide means England are without a win in their last 18 away Ashes Tests, with the home side having won 16 of the contests since the tourists' last victory on Australian soil in 2011.
England were on the back foot after blowing superb batting conditions on day two at the Adelaide Oval to concede an 85-run first innings lead.
Australia's second innings total of 349 - led by Travis Head's brilliant 170 and first innings centurion Alex Carey's 72 - left the home side just over five sessions to bowl out an England team that had only passed 300 once in five previous attempts on the tour.
England reached 177-3 to keep alive their hopes of pulling off a miracle in the Christmas Test, but Lyon took three quick wickets on Saturday evening for the loss of just 17 runs to all but end the contest.
Having won their last two home Ashes series 4-0, Australia will resume their quest to claim a first whitewash since 2013-14 when the fourth Test begins in Melbourne on Boxing Day, before the contest draws to a close in Sydney from January 4-8.
More to follow...
Australia lead five-match series 2-0
