Australia complete 4-0 Ashes series victory

Needing six wickets for victory, Steve Smith's side's chances were boosted when Joe Root failed to resume his innings at the start of the play after being treated in hospital because of a viral gastroenteritis bug.

The England captain did appear an hour into play after Moeen Ali was dismissed by Nathan Lyon (3-54) for the seventh time in the series, and he showed plenty of courage, going on to score his 37th Test half-century.

However, he did not reappear after the interval and the tourists subsided in quick time, finishing 180 all out as Pat Cummins took 4-39 to complete Australia's rout by mid-afternoon.

Having arrived at the SCG after suffering from severe dehydration, diarrhoea and vomiting overnight, Root entered proceedings to a standing ovation and he quickly turned his unbeaten 42 into a 130-ball half-century.

Alongside Bairstow, Root battled hard to guide England to lunch without further loss and with the pair established at the crease there was just a glimmer of hope that they could perhaps pull off a remarkable stalemate.

There was still no sign of a Root return as Australia took the second new ball and England's Ashes rear-guard was coming to a quick end as Cummins bounced out Mason Crane on his way to an eight-wicket match haul on his home ground.

Josh Hazlewood had the final word on the series, striking the final blow when James Anderson was caught-behind fencing at a short ball as Root decided against batting again.