Déjà vu as England collapse to nine-wicket defeat in first Ashes Test against Australia despite overnight hope – ‘We’ve been here before and we’ll be here again’

England fans will be waking up in disappointment after an all-too-familiar batting collapse resulted in a heavy first Ashes Test defeat to Australia by nine wickets.

Entering day four on 220-2 at The Gabba, trailing by 58 runs, there were genuine hopes the tourists could fight their way back into the match.

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However, Joe Root’s men ended up losing their final eight wickets for just 77 runs.

Dawid Malan and Root were quickly dismissed for 82 and 89 respectively, distinguishing any overnight England hope within minutes.

The tourists did force the Aussies to bat again, but their measly lead of 20 runs was picked off with ease, despite the fall of Alex Carey.

It means England remain without a win in Brisbane for 35 years, and rather alarmingly, Root’s side have only claimed one victory in their last ten Tests.

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“We’ve been here before. How many times have we seen England do this?” talkSPORT’s cricket correspondent Jon Newman said.

“The collapse is a part of the English brittleness. It was always a huge ask.

“They were never coming close to looking like they would win the match, but it was still disappointing.

“You’ve got to get the basics right. If you pick the wrong team and do the wrong thing at the toss, you’re on a hiding to nothing!

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“Today, when the pressure was back on, can we get to the second new ball? Can we bat until tea? What kind of target can England set Australia?

“Visions of Headingley and Botham’s Ashes, then within 20 minutes, both batsmen were out.

“We’ve been here before, and the feeling is, we’ll be here again.”