Ashes 2010: Australia press reaction to day one at MCG

With all hope of regaining the Ashes quickly evaporating following a disastrous opening day of the fourth Test in Melbourne, mediocrity threatens to become the norm. Suffering stage fright on the biggest day of the cricketing calendar, Australia succumbed to a challenging pitch and collective ineptitude. England choked the Australians, who increasingly thrashed about gasping for air. Never against England has Australia batted so badly in Melbourne Malcolm Conn The Australian Ricky Ponting's players were lambs to the slaughter. Their hopes of securing a second Test victory – and keeping alive their hopes of seizing back the Ashes urn from England – lasted three miserable and revealing hours. Put into bat on a track made to measure for an England outfit raised on damp decks and bread and butter pudding, the hosts fell to their lowest Ashes total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the venue's 133-year history. Hard as he tried, even Ricky Ponting could not resist the dancing deliveries sent down by a skilful attack. Within hours an eagerly awaited contest had become a rout Peter Roebuck Sydney Morning Herald To use the Australian vernacular, we're stuffed. This was a dark day for Australian cricket. Large chunks of the crowd went home early because Boxing Day had become such a debacle. This was the day the urn was lost. Fat ladies in the Barmy Army are already singing their lungs out. Every additional run for England today is another nail in Australia's coffin. Another dark day and it really will be lights out. Will Swanton The Daily Telegraph The bowlers have been ridiculed, but the batsmen have been more culpable in this series. On average, Australia have lost four wickets getting to 100. Yesterday, not even all 10 were enough. England's bowling was accurate, rigorous and sustained, but 98 all out flattered them. This is Australia's lowest ebb since the Ashes summer of 1986-87, perhaps lower Greg Baum The Age Don't shed a tear over Australia's Ashes demise – the looming defeat could be just the kick in the pants Australia needs. While Australia has recklessly snatched at glory this summer, no team in 25 years has come to our shores better prepared or with a stronger collective focus than this England squad. An Australian victory in this Ashes series would have only served to heighten Australia's belief that its system is going fine when it's clearly not producing young players of robust Test match pedigree. It needs an urgent review of its set-up. If England win the Ashes, they deserve it Robert Craddock Herald Sun Australia's Ashes campaign is terminally ill after a humiliating opening day to the fourth Test at the MCG. The Australians were sent in and skittled for 98 – the only time they have been dismissed for under three figures in the first innings of an Ashes Test – and were then made to look innocuous with the ball as England romped to 0-157 in reply by stumps. It proved the perfect day for England captain Andrew Strauss Michael Horan Courier Mail