Cricholic
England win a memorable Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, thereby ending a 14-year wait for a Test victory on Australian soil. In a dramatic two-day contest where bowlers dominated throughout, England defeated Australia by four wickets and, as a result, snapped a long-standing drought on one of cricket’s biggest stages.
⚡ England win early control with relentless bowling
England win early momentum after Ben Stokes chose to bowl first on a lively MCG surface. From the outset, the pitch offered seam and bounce, and consequently Australia struggled to settle. Josh Tongue led the attack with pace and discipline, while Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, meanwhile, maintained pressure from the other end.
Although Usman Khawaja and Michael Neser showed brief resistance, partnerships failed to develop. As a result, Tongue’s five-wicket haul proved decisive, and Australia were bowled out for 152, giving England a strong foothold in a fast-moving Test.
🔄 England win balance despite first-innings collapse
However, England win balance rather than dominance in reply as Australia struck back strongly with the ball. Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland exploited the conditions expertly, and therefore England’s top order collapsed under sustained pressure.
Nevertheless, Harry Brook counter-attacked with a fighting 41, while Atkinson added valuable lower-order runs. Even so, England were dismissed for 110, and consequently the contest remained finely poised at the halfway stage.
📊 Scorecard – ENG vs AUS, Boxing Day Test
🇦🇺 Australia – 1st Innings
152 all out (45.2 ov)
M. Neser 35
U. Khawaja 29
J. Tongue 5/45, G. Atkinson 2/28
England – 1st Innings
110 all out (29.5 ov)
H. Brook 41
G. Atkinson 28
M. Neser 4/45, S. Boland 3/30
🇦🇺 Australia – 2nd Innings
132 all out (34.3 ov)
T. Head 46
S. Smith 24*
B. Carse 4/34, B. Stokes 3/24
England – 2nd Innings
178/6 (32.2 ov)
J. Bethell 40
Z. Crawley 37
H. Brook 18*
Mitchell Starc – 55 runs, 2 wickets
Michael Neser – 54 runs, 0 wickets
Jhye Richardson – 22 runs, 2 wickets
Scott Boland – 29 runs, 2 wickets
🏆 Result: England win by 4 wickets
⭐ Player of the Match: Josh Tongue
🎯 England win advantage as Australia fail to build lead
Afterwards, England win the decisive phase during Australia’s second innings through discipline and patience. Travis Head fought hard with 46; however, partnerships again proved elusive. Brydon Carse delivered a match-turning spell, while Stokes, importantly, led from the front with vital breakthroughs.
As a result, Australia were dismissed for 132, leaving England a challenging but achievable target of 175.
🧠 England win chase with courage and clarity
England win the match through positive intent and calm decision-making. Initially, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set the tone by refusing to let Australia’s bowlers settle. Consequently, their approach softened the ball and reduced movement.
Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell showed maturity beyond his years, scoring a composed 40 under pressure. Eventually, Harry Brook remained calm at the finish, guiding England to 178 for 6 and sealing a famous Boxing Day victory.
💬 England win reactions highlight belief and unity
After the match, Ben Stokes praised the collective effort, stating that the victory was deeply special following a demanding build-up. Moreover, he highlighted the support of travelling fans and explained how balancing intent with discipline proved crucial during the chase.
In contrast, Steve Smith admitted Australia were probably 50–60 runs short, noting that conditions offered plenty for bowlers. With 36 wickets falling in two days, he accepted adaptation was key.
🦁 England win pride despite series outcome
Overall, for those expecting England to fade away, this performance served as a reminder that under Ben Stokes, this side does not give up easily. Although the Ashes will not return home, England leave Melbourne with pride after ending a 15-year drought in Australia. Consequently, a 3-2 finish now becomes the target in Sydney, while Australia will treat this defeat as a timely reality check. The series may be decided, but importantly, there is still plenty to play for.
