#Ashes4thTest: England Salvage Some Pride With A Sensational Four-Wicket Win Over Australia In A Dramatic Two-Day Boxing Day Test

Picture : ICC /X

England finally broke their long jinx in Asutralia as they  finally managed a nervy four- wicket win over Australia  in a dramatic two-day Boxing Day 4th Ashes Test at MCG  . It was England’s first win in Australia in 14 years.

Earlier in sun baked MCG England Skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl on  pitch that was paradise for fast bowlers . Stokes decsion was proved correct as English bowlers ran through the Aussie batting line-up and bundeld them out for 152 .  Travis Head ( 12), Jake Weatherald ( 10) , Marnus Labuschagne ( 6), Stand-in Skipper Steve Smith (9) , Usman Khawaja( 29), Alex Carey ( 20) , Cameron Green ( 17) , Michael Neser top-scored with 35. Mitchell Starc ( 1), Jhye Richardson not out 0, Scott Boalnd (0). The large crowd was stunned by Aussie batting show

For England seamer Josh Tongue was the wrecker-in chief with impressive figures 5/45. He was well backed up by the likes of Gus Atkinson 2/28 , Brydon Carse 1/42, Ben Stokes 1/25. The absence of Jofra Archer was not felt. The English bolwing was delight to the huge Barmy army .

England needed a good batting effort to put pressure on Australia. But on a pitch where pacemen had a ball Aussie bolwers hit back hard to bowl out England for a 110 and even taking 42 run fiurst innings lead .   Only three English batsmen reached double figures . Zak Crawley ( 5), Ben Duckett ( 2), Joe Root ( 0), Jacob Bethell ( 1), Harry Brook ( 41), Skipper Ben Stokes ( 16), Jamie Smith ( 2) , Will Jacks ( 5), Gus Atkinson ( 28) , Brydon Carse ( 4)  Josh Tongue not out 1 .

Aussie bolwing attack were sharp : Mitchell Starc 2/23 , Michael Neser 4/45, Scott Boland 3/30, Jhye Richardson 0/8, Cameron Green 1/0 ( 0.5)

It was upto Australia now with a slender lead to drive home the adavantaage. But Aussie batting for the second time flopped . Nightwatchman Scott Boland ( 4), Travis Head got the start and threatened but could make only  ( 46) , Jake Weatherald ( 5), Marnus Labuschagne ( 8) , Usman Khawaja (0), Alex Carey ( 4) , Cameron Green ( 19) yet another poor innings despite hype as an all- rounder , Michael Neser ( 0) , Mitchell Starc ( 0) , Jhye Richardson not out 7. Australia bolwed out for a dismal 132/10. England were now set a 175 run target to win

Engish bowlers were aggressive again and picked regular wickets to rattle the Aussies. The intent shown was good .  Brydon Carse 4/34, Josh Tongue 2/44 , Ben Stokes 3/24, Gus Atkinson 1/20

Chasing 175 England  had to battle hard and hold their nerves . Zak Crawley ( 37 ), Ben Duckett ( 34) put them on track with their confident opening stand of 51 . Duckett was the first to go . Brydon Carse ( 6), Crawley fell soon after . Jacob Bethell scored a vital 40 to calm down the nerves before he  was dismissed .  Joe Root ( 15), Ben Stokes ( 2) fell to give the barmy army some tense moments. But Harry Brook not out 18 and Jamie Smith not out 3 ensured nofurther damage as England romped home to score 178/6  and win by 4 wickets . The series score-line now read 3-1

Aussie bowlers gave it all. But the runs were not on board . Mitchell Starc 2/55, Michael Neser 0 /54, Jhye Richardson 2/22 , Scott Boland 2/29

Match: The Ashes, 4th Test
Venue: Melbourne | Date: Dec 26-30, 2025