Result and latest updates from the second day of the third test in Melbourne

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England need a resounding fight from bowlers if they are to keep their Ashes hopes alive after another horrific opening day for Joe Root in Melbourne.

The captain scored the highest goals with 50 but it was another sad display by his side after Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to turn the nail in England’s top spot.

Root was visibly frustrated with the tame way of separating him. His mistake was one of three non-coercive mistakes made by the senior men in a frustrating afternoon session, and Ben Stokes and Joss Butler were also guilty as the tourists eventually turned out for 185.

After criticism of his bowling unit after his second defeat in the Adelaide Test, Root now needs his attack to run across Australia – reaching 61 for one on closing after James Anderson eliminated David Warner.

The pressure will be on returning Jack Leach to match Nathan Lyon – who claimed three times in the first round – on a ground floor offering some spin.

When head coach Chris Silverwood laid out his blueprint for the team two years ago, it was built around one key concept: big first-round innings. The main totals simply did not materialize, in either round, and it was the 12th time in 15 Tests this year that England have been rejected below 200.

Stephen Fenn, a former English bowler – who was part of the winning Ashes Tour in 2011 – thinks the hitters are confused in their approach.

“They looked a bit disoriented, not quite sure where to sit between being aggressive and trying to force yourself into the game, but also having a resolute defense at the same time,” Finn told BBC Test Match Special.

“When you look at it and the way they played after that first hour, I didn’t see excessive stitching. 185 is way below par.”

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