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Josh Tongue in top 5: Best Boxing Day Test bowling figures for visitors in 21st century

Mayank

Bumrah, Kumble and Tongue feature as top bowlers at MCG [Source: StarSportsIndia, MIPaltan, CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Bumrah, Kumble and Tongue feature as top bowlers at MCG [Source: StarSportsIndia, MIPaltan, CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

The eventful Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground saw a total of 20 wickets falling, as both Australia and England got bowled out at 152 and 110, respectively. Among the key performers on the day was English pacer Josh Tongue, who picked his third Test five-fer in 15 innings.

While picking his third five-fer, he also became the first English bowler to achieve the feat in the Boxing Day Test since 1998. As he reaches the landmark, here's the list of visiting bowlers with the best figures in Melbourne since turn of the millennium.

5. Dale Steyn (2008) - 5/67

During the second Test of the 2008 South Africa tour of Australia at the MCG, the visitors stood a chance to clinch the series with a match still to be played, and they took the opportunity with both hands. Dale Steyn picked a 5/87 in the first innings, to dismantle the Aussies for 394 and SA came into the third innings with a 65-run lead.

He once again stepped up for the Proteas and got another five-wicket haul to complete his 10 in the match and got Australia all out for 247 as they went on to chase 183 by 9 wickets. His second innings five-fer included wickets of both openers, Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich, followed by Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Peter Siddle.

4. Jasprit Bumrah (2024) - 5/57

Having won the previous two Border-Gavaskar Trophies away from home, India came into the fourth match of the series at the MCG, trailing the series 2-1. Following his 4/99 in the first innings, Jasprit Bumrah once again took the onus upon himself to dismiss Australia early with 5/57 in the second innings.

The wickets of Sam Konstas, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey and Nathan Lyon restricted Australia to a 339-run lead. However, India got bowled out for only 155 and ended up losing the series.

3. Josh Tongue (2025) - 5/45

Coming into the Boxing Day Test, England had already lost the series and played for pride at the MCG, as they won the toss and decided to bowl first on a green deck. Having picked five wickets in the last Test, Josh Tongue looked in a supreme wicket-taking form on Day 1 of the Test, at the back of a good spell from Gus Atkinson.

He picked the important wickets of opener Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to get his team in front early in the innings. He followed it by returning after lunch to dismiss the well-set Michael Neser, followed by Scott Boland on back-to-back balls to complete his 5/45 and restricted the hosts to 152.

2. Anil Kumble (2003) - 6/176

When India toured Australia after the famous 2011 series win, they stood a chance to win a Border-Gavaskar Trophy away from home at the iconic MCG, as they came into the Test with a 1-0 lead. While batting first, they put on 366 in just over a day before Ricky Ponting put on a masterclass 257, alongside Matthew Hayden's 136, to post 558 runs.

During Australia's innings, Kumble stood out among Indian batters, dismissing both Hayden and Ponting, alongside others, including Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Steve Waugh and Brett Lee to finish with a figure of 6/176 in a marathon 51-over effort.

1. Jasprit Bumrah (2018) - 6/33

Heading into the MCG Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018/19, both teams had won a Test each, while India had a chance to retain the title, courtesy of being the winners in the previous series. In the Boxing Day Test, the young Bumrah showed early signs of his greatness and picked 6/33 in his 15.5 overs to get Australia 151 all out and take a huge lead of 292 runs.

In the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, his wickets included Marcus Harris, the experienced Shaun Marsh, Travis Head and captain Tim Paine. With his special bowling performance, he also became the Indian bowler with the best figures at the venue. He took another 3/53 in the second innings, and India won the match by 137 runs, and he was named the Player of the Match.