Joe Root says England keep making the same mistakes as Australia takes 2-0 Ashes lead
A frustrated England skipper Joe Root has lamented that his side keeps making the "same mistakes" as the tourists face the near-impossible task of regaining the Ashes from 2-0 down.
Only once in Ashes history has a side won the series from such a predicament, and that was the Australian team of 1936-37, led by Don Bradman, who made scores of 270, 212 and 169 to help his side to victory in each of the final three matches of the series.
Only Root and Dawid Malan are averaging over 30 with the bat for England this series, which doesn't bode well for the tourists as they head to Melbourne.
READ MORE: Two years Ashes preparation wasted, says Atherton
READ MORE: Massive blow for Nadal's Australian Open hopes
THE MOLE: Storm winger close to securing new club in Sydney
The bowling is also of major concern, with Stuart Broad largely ineffective in Adelaide, while Chris Woakes has struggled in both matches.
The team also faces the dilemma of what to do with the spin-bowling role, after Jack Leach was mauled at the Gabba.
Speaking after the second Test loss, Root couldn't hide his disappointment.
"The disappointing thing is we made the same mistakes as last week," he said. "You can't afford to do that.
"We needed to bowl fuller. As soon as we did in the second innings, we created chances. That's frustrating.
"We did it four years ago and didn't learn from it - we have to be better.
"We talk about what length to bowl all the time.
"We look at the data, what's going to hit the stumps on each surface. It's well communicated, but it's not always as simple as that and people get caught up in the emotion of the game."
England has now lost 11 of the last 12 Ashes Tests in Australia, dating back to the start of the 2013-14 series. Only a draw at the MCG in 2017-18 has broken Australia's winning streak.
Cricket Australia now faces the very real possibility the Ashes series will be decided next week at the MCG, leaving the Sydney and Hobart matches in January as dead rubbers.
Great Ashes moments since 1990: The centuries, wicket hauls, deliveries, catches and rescue missions that highlight cricket's longest rivalry
