• Home
  • Match Hub
  • History Created At Mcg England Secure First Test Win In Australia Since 2011

History created at MCG: England secure first Test win in Australia since 2011 

Mayank

Josh Tongue picked 7/89 at MCG [Source: Oam_16/X.com]Josh Tongue picked 7/89 at MCG [Source: Oam_16/X.com]

The Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) only managed to produce a two-day contest between the arch-rivals as the green track took the centre stage in the 4th game of the series, with a whopping 20 wickets falling on the first day. However, the ebbs and flows for both teams meant the fans remained on the edge of their seats for most parts of the match.

Following the ups and downs throughout the electrifying two days of play, the visitors finally ended their 15-year wait to win a Test in Australia. Here's how the match unfolded.

Josh Tongue runs through the Aussie line-up

Having won the toss, Ben Stokes asked Australia to bat first in the Boxing Day Test, and his bowlers did not disappoint. Gus Atkinson started the Test with a tight new-ball spell, conceding at a miserly rate, while also getting rid of the dangerous Travis Head early on in the innings. While Brydon Carse looked a bit off, the first change bowler Josh Tongue was once again up for the task and led the bowling with his brilliant wicket-taking ability.

In his 11.2 overs, the pacer picked up a five-wicket haul — the first for an Englishman at the MCG since 1998, dismissing three of the top four batters, including a ripper, angling in to crash Steve Smith's stumps. He returned for a second spell to get rid of Michael Neser, who was adding important runs down the order, followed by Scott Boland to complete the five-fer and get the hosts 152 all out.

Pace-battery keeps Australia alive

Australia's lead pacer of the series, Mitchell Starc, dismissed both the English openers cheaply to inflict a collapse, as the visitors looked to strengthen their grip on the match. He was complemented perfectly by Neser, as he did not let the middle-order get too comfortable and got the wickets of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root for a duck, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse to cap off with figures of 4/45 (10). On the other end, Scott Boland also picked the prized scalps of well-set Harry Brook, Jamie Smith and Will Jacks.

Despite just 152 in the first innings, the Aussies managed a healthy 42-run lead over England on a bowler-friendly track and came out to bat once again at the end of Day 1.

Australian batters crumble like a pack of cards

Having survived the final over of Day 1, night-watchman Boland got out early on Day 2 to Atkinson, and it was followed by a string of low scores from the rest of the batters, as the England pacers hunted in a group. Opener Head scored a vital 46(67) as the leading run-scorer of the innings. Captain Smith also added an important 24*(39) while witnessing a collapse from the other end. He built a small 31-run stand with Cameron Green (19) and eventually took the team to 132.

Carse finished as the top-wicket taker of the innings, picking 4/34, alongside Stokes' 3/24. Tongue picked two more in the second innings, and Atkinson got 1/20 before heading off to the pavilion injured. Thanks to this team effort, they needed 175 to win their first Test in Australia since 2010/11.

Bethell and openers guide England in a tense run-chase

Chasing a rather small but tricky target of 175 on what was still a bowling-friendly track, England started with their best opening stand of the series, thanks to Ben Duckett's nerve but effective 34(26) before getting done by a classic Mitch Starc yorker at 51 in 7 overs. Carse was promoted to 3 to attack and run away with the match, but soon fell to Jhye Richardson when the score read 65/1.

On his Ashes debut, Bethell stitched a 47-run partnership with Zak Crawley (37), followed by 25 runs with Joe Root. He tried to remain unbeaten in the chase; however, he fell to Boland after a well-scored 40(46). Root was also trapped lbw by Richardson at 15(38), followed by another Stokes dismissal for Starc, but eventually, vice-captain Brook (18*) and Jamie Smith (3*) took the team past the finish line with 4 wickets in hand.

Notably, this marks the first Test win for Joe Root and Stokes in Australia after playing 18 and 13 matches, respectively, down under.