Ashes 2017: Michael Vaughan criticises 'disaster' day that he believes has cost England the Urn

England trail Australia by 146 runs with the hosts still holding six first-innings wickets in hand to seize control of the third Test

(Getty)

Michael Vaughan labelled the third day of the third Ashes Test a “disaster” for England after they took just one wicket and conceded 346 runs, with Steve Smith scoring a double-century and Mitchell Marsh adding his maiden 100.

Australia batted themselves into a position where they are almost certain not to lose the encounter at the Waca in Perth, where a victory will seal an Ashes series victory with two matches to spare, as Smith departed the crease at the end of the day on 229 not-out, with Marsh with him on 181 not-out.

It proved a torturous day for England in the field as they spent all 90 overs out in the baking hot sun, with hopes of bowling Australia out for fewer runs that their first-innings total of 403 quickly disappearing as Smith seized control.

Australia finished the day on 549-4, and could feasibly win the match without batting again if they can go about building a quick lead and then bowl England out again before anticipated weather hits the Waca.

And the score left former England captain Michael Vaughan in no doubt of how the day had gone for the tourists, who are currently on course for their third 5-0 whitewash in Australia in four tours.

“It is a disastrous day,” Vaughan said on BT Sport. “I think today showed with no swing and no seam, no pace, no spin, how’re you going to get wickets? You’re basically relying on an Australian batting unit to get bored and chip one in the air. Well you can see from their eyes that they’re not going to do that, they’re desperate to get these Ashes back and you’ll have to say that today in my opinion the Ashes will be staying in Australia.

“Today was the day that I think England – having won day one and day two to Australia – they had to win today, they really did. To come out and get early wickets, they had to get the Australia captain quickly, they tried that theory with the on-field set, they had deep mid-wicket on the boundary to him so they did try that to him, but sometimes you come up against a player and a partnership that are just too good.

“I think they could have tried a few things, they could have bowled a bit shorter to Mitchell Marsh, they could have used [Craig] Overton with the second new ball – I must mention Overton is playing with a cracked rib, you’ve got to be a character to play with that.

“I just think Australia have been too good.”

But his fellow former England international and current analyst Graeme Swann still believes that Australia won’t be able to seal w series whitewash because he expects England to bat out a draw in Perth, given the current lifeless pitch on offer.

“That wicket is still absolutely belting,” Swann added. “I disagree with Michael a little bit as in I don’t think they’re going to lose this Test match – I’m hoping they’re not going to lose this Test match – only because the pitch is so flat and it is not breaking up.

“It may break-up over the next couple of days, but the England fielders must be watching those guys bat and saying ‘right we’re batting again, we’re getting big runs, we’re not going to get out as bowlers, we’re keeping this Ashes alive’ and I believe they’ll do it.”

A draw would at least give England hope of retaining the Ashes, though they would then need to win the fourth Test in Melbourne that begins on Boxing Day and the Sydney finale in the new year.