MELBOURNE – In a whirlwind encounter that defied modern cricketing norms, England secured a historic four-wicket victory over Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), ending a nearly 15-year wait for a Test win on Australian soil. The match, which concluded on Saturday afternoon, lasted just two days and six sessions, leaving the cricketing world divided over a treacherous pitch that saw 36 wickets fall in less than 800 deliveries.
A Drought Defied
Before this weekend, England had gone 5,468 days without a Test win in Australia, a winless streak of 18 matches dating back to the 2010-11 Ashes series. While Australia had already retained the urn by winning the first three matches of this series, Ben Stokes’ side restored immense pride by avoiding a whitewash and securing their first win at the MCG since 1998.
The Two-Day Shootout
The match was defined by a grassy, “venomous” pitch that transformed the contest into a fast-bowling lottery.
- Day 1: Australia was skittled for 152 in their first innings. England’s Josh Tongue was the standout, claiming a career-best 5-45 and becoming the first England bowler to take a Boxing Day five-wicket haul at the MCG. England’s reply was even more fragile, collapsing for just 110 as Michael Neser (4-45) and Scott Boland ripped through the top order.
- Day 2: Starting with a 42-run lead, Australia crumbled again for 132. Brydon Carse (4-34) and captain Ben Stokes (3-24) exploited the conditions to set England a tricky target of 175.
The Chase
England’s pursuit of 175 was fueled by an aggressive start from Zak Crawley (37) and Ben Duckett (34), who shared a 51-run opening stand in just seven overs. Rising star Jacob Bethell showed remarkable composure, top-scoring with a vital 40 off 46 balls.
Despite a late-innings wobble where both Joe Root and Ben Stokes fell with just 10 runs remaining, Harry Brook (18)* and Jamie Smith (3)* guided England home to spark jubilant celebrations in front of a stunned Melbourne crowd.
Key Match Statistics
| Category | Australia | England |
|---|---|---|
| First Innings | 152 all out (45.2 ov) | 110 all out (29.5 ov) |
| Second Innings | 132 all out (34.3 ov) | 178/6 (32.2 ov) |
| Top Performer | Travis Head (46) | Josh Tongue (7 wickets) |
| Result | — | England |
Reaction: “Farcical” or “Fascinating”?
The speed of the result—the second two-day finish of this Ashes series—has sparked intense debate. Former England captain Nasser Hussain labeled the pitch “farcical at times,” while Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith expressed disappointment that the game didn’t last long enough for the fans or the finances.
“We’re over the moon to be on the right side of a result,” said Ben Stokes. “It’s a pretty good feeling. There might be some pretty sore heads tomorrow.”
England and Australia now head to Sydney for the fifth and final Test starting on January 4, 2026, with the series scoreline standing at 3-1.